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A HISTORY OF 

GRUNDY COUNTY 



JAMES EVERETT FORD 




JAMES EVERETT FORD 



A HISTORY 

OF 

GRUNDY COUNTY 

r 



Treating of its Transformation from the 

Heart of the Wilderness of Yesterday 

to the Heart of the Mighty 

Nation of Today. 




A Tribute to the Pioneer and Something of 
the Men who are Making the Grun- 
dy County of Tomorrow. 




Printed by 

NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY 

Trenton, Missouri, 1908. 






Copyright 1908 by 
JAMES EVERETT FORD 






HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 11 



^r:efat::e 



The purpose of this book is not only to narrate 
events, but to portray pioneer hfe; to call up our 
grandfathers in their picturesque attire, with their 
old-fashioned manners and quaint dialect, and 
have them show us over their log cabins; to see 
their rude furniture; to sit with them at the table, 
and by the fireplace ; and to take a bird's eye view of 
the dense forests and broad prairies of Grundy 
County sixty years ago. And in the pioneer life of 
this county is an epitome of the pioneer life of the 
state. 

None too soon is this work undertaken. Even 
now we see as through a glass, darkly, the county's 
earliest history. The few old pioneers who have 
seen the twilight of its dawn are now far in the twi- 
light of the evening of life. Soon such a work 
would be impossible. 

And I feel that there is need of a book of this 
kind ; that it should be read by young as well as old. 
Every educator knows the value of the study of his- 
tory — the study of the progress of the human mind 
and of the advance of the human race. But should 
we know more of the manners and customs of the 
Greeks than of our grandfathers? I think it is as 
essential to have a clear knowledge of the home life 
of the early Missourians as of the early Macedon- 
ians. 

Much space is given to biography. An insight 



12 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. 

into the county's history is given in the hves of her 
citizens. And what may be of but ordinary interest 
now may be of inestimable value in the course of 
time. 

Much of the credit for whatever success this 
book may meet is due to the newspapers of the 
county which have coxirteously allowed me the use 
of their files. I am especially indebted to the Re- 
publican-Tribune, whose files, extending back for 
forty years, have been of great assistance to me. 
From Birdsall & Dean's old history of Grundy 
County information has been taken when it seemed 
authentic. To the many old pioneers who have 
given me information and inspiration, and to J- E. 
Carter and O. G. Bain in particular, for articles con- 
tributed, I express my heartiest thanks for their in- 
valuable aid. 

Jami:s Eve:r^tt Ford. 



HISTORY OF CRllXDY (^OUXTY. 13 



CHAPTER I. 



THE EARLIEST PERIOD— Early Subdivisions of Missouri— The 
Indians— Ths First S?ttlement— Bee Hunting — The First Set- 
tlers — Settlements multiply — Plowing — The Mormons — The 
Heatherly Gang — Commerce, Foreign — Commerce, Domestic 
— Post Office Facilities — Political — An Old Time Honeymoon 
And a Peep Inside the New Home — Brief Sketch of Uncle 
Jack Moore — Charles Scott, an Old Settler — Pen Pictures of 
The First Cabins — List of First Settlers. 



RUNDY COUNTY was organized in 

G1841. Since 1837 it had been a part of 
Livingston County. It was named in 
honor of the Hon. FeHx Grundy of 
Tennessee, a former United States 
Senator, and at that time, 1841, Attor- 
ney General of the United States. 

In 181 2, in accordance with an act of Congress, 
Governor Clark issued a proclamation dividing that 
part of the Louisiana purchase known as the Terri- 
tory of Missouri, into five counties, as follows: St. 
Charles, St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau 
and New Madrid. In the year 1816 Howard 
County was created from the territory of St. Louis 
and St. Charles. 

The County of Howard comprised an empire 

22,000 square miles in area, one-third the size of 

the present state. The territory now included in 

Grundy County was a part of Howard until 1820. 

Howard County was divided and Ray County 



14 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

org-anized on November i6, 1820, whereupon this 
territory became a part of Missouritan Township, 
Ray County, and so remained for twelve years,, 
when it 1:)ecame part of Grand River Township. 
January 2, 1833, Carroll County was organized 
from the territory of Ray, and Livingston County 
was formed of a part of Carroll County, January 
6, 1837. 

Up to 1795 this country was claimed by the Mis- 
souri Indians. They were forced to the south and 
west by the Sacs and Foxes, who by the year 181 2 
were locating on the Missouri River. Indians here 
were never numerous nor did they ever permanent- 
ly occupy the country so far back as we have any 
record. The Sacs and Foxes and at intervals the 
lowas came in small bands hunting and trapping 
along the streams. They relinquished their claim 
to the land in 1824, but continued to revisit the 
place until as late as 1840. The settlers of this 
county never had any serious difficulty with the In- 
dians. 

The first settlement made in Grundy County 
was in 1833. Deer and turkey w^re numerous here 
then, there were some buffalo and bear, and a few 
elk. Wolves made the first settlers keep careful 
watch of their young stock; there were numerous 
foxes and all manner of small game, while occa- 
sionally a wild cat was seen. Indians were to be 
found here only at irregular intervals and in small 
numbers, hunting and trapping. 

Depending to a great extent upon hunting and 
fishing for a living, the early settlers always built 
their log cabins in timber land and near a stream. 
Not until well into the fifties did they begin to 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 15 

realize that the prairies might be of some value. 

One of the chief attractions this country had to 
the first settlers was in the number of bee trees to 
be found here. While honey and wild game were 
among the principle articles of food, both were so 
easily obtained as to be wasted in large quantities. 
The securing of beeswax, one of the principle ex- 
ports, was of much more importance than the secur- 
ing of honey. A whole neighborhood at a time 
would go bee hunting, sometimes going a consid- 
erable distance from home. On these trips when 
they cut a bee tree they would squeeze out the wax, 
allowing the honey to run down on the ground 
where a part of it would be collected again by the 
bees. Large hollow trees being plentiful then, and 
bees comparatively unmolested, prodigious quan- 
tities of honey would often be found in a bee tree. 

The first settlers in Grundy County were Dr. 
\\m. P. Thompson, John Scott and Harvey Meek, 
brothers-in-law, who came here together, with their 
families and settled on Thompson's fork of 
Grand River in the fall of 1833; and Levi Moore, 
with his family and sons-in-law, Wm. Cochran, 
John Thrailkill, George Tetherow and Yancy 
Stokes, who formed Moore's settlement, afterwards 
Trenton, in 1833 or 1834. 

It is a disputed question as to who was the first 
settler. "Uncle Jacky" Moore, son of Levi Moore, 
is very positive that his people came in the spring 
of 1833. In this case they would be the first set- 
tlers. Others are equally positive that it was not 
until 1834, the spring after the coming of Thomp- 
son, Scott and Meek, that the Moores came to the 
countv. 



16 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxXTY. 

In 1835 came the Watsons and Hawkins, who 
located in the east and southeast part of the county; 
the Dobbins, who located where Lindley now is. In 
the same year Daniel Devaul, who afterwards l^uilt 
the first store in the county, came to Moore's settle- 
ment. A few other settlers came, locating in differ- 
ent parts of the county. The "Heatherley gang," 
it appears, came the same year, but they were not 
bona fide settlers. 

In 1836 a steady stream of immigration set in. 
The county was surveyed by the United States 
government survey in that year and the next, a land 
office was opened at Lexington, and the land of the 
county was opened to entry. Lands were quickly 
taken up, both by incoming settlers and speculators. 

Immigrants were principally from Kentucky, 
Virginia and Ohio. They would come in squads of 
from five to ten families, and locate in the same 
neighborhood. 

It was not long until they began to till the soil. 
Breaking prairie at that time, with the implements 
then obtainable, was Cjuite different from modern 
methods of plowing. The plow of that period had 
a w^ooden mouldboard, cut a furrow from thirty to 
forty inches wide, and was drawn by from four to 
eight or ten yoke of oxen. This being more oxen 
than the average farmer had, certain settlers in 
each neighborhood broke prairie for their neigh- 
bors for wages. 

James Bunch is said to have put up the first 
horse mill. Each customer furnished his own horse 
and did his own grinding. The toll charged for the 
use of the mill was one-eighth. 

The horse was a verv rare animal in the forties, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 17 

oxen being used instead. The settler was as par- 
ticular to have a match yoke of steers as a farmer 
is now to have a match team of horses. 

Samuel and Wm. Benson, Evan and AVm. N. 
Pegry, Wm. AlcCammon, Wm. Metcalf, the Ox- 
fords, Grubbs, Applegates and Wynne's settled on 
the west side of the river in 1837. On the east side 
Jesse and Raison Bain, Samuel Kelso, Henry Fos- 
ter, Wm. Dille and others came the same year, 
forming the Bain settlement, in the present neigh- 
borhood of Tindall. The Bain settlement was then 
the most northerly one in the county. Other early 
settlers are George Peery and sons, William and 
Archibald, Jewett Norris, Philip ^Vild and George 
Bunch. j 

It is thought that a few Alormon families 
stopped for a few months in Franklin township in 
1836. At this time there was a Mormon colony in 
Daviess Count}^ and this colony, if it existed, was 
an offshoot of that. The Indians reported the ex- 
istence of the settlement in Franklin Township, and 
the first white settler in that vicinit}^, James Wel- 
don, found evidence that the report was true. 

The Heatherleys, a gang of horse thieves, made 
this country their rendezvous as early and perhaps 
earlier than 1835. In the story of the Heatherley 
gang, as well as in many other instances of the very 
early settlement it is hard to distinguish between 
fact and tradition. According to one account in 
the old Grundy County History, they killed a man 
named Dunbar and a companion in 1836 in an at- 
tempt to rob them, and threw their bodies into 
Medicine Creek. Then to avert suspicion they 
gave out that the lowas and Sacs were on the war- 



18 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

path. The settlers were, of course, wildly excited. 
Two companies of militia were called from Ray and 
two from Clay County, while one was organized 
here in Livingston and the force placed under com- 
mand of General, or Dr., Thompson. In the mean- 
time the settlers at Moore's and Thompson's settle- 
ments had assemhled at Moore's settlement and con- 
structed a rude block house for their defense. The 
bodies of the men were found, but finding that the 
rumor of hostile Indians was false, the settlers had 
the Heatherleys, who started it, arrested. One of 
the gang, Hawkins, turned state's evidence and the 
gang was sent to the penitentiary. It is said that 
Senator David R. Atchison commanded one of 
these militia companies. So ended the Heatherley 

The same authority in another section of the 
book says that this disturbance arose in 1838. That 
the depredations of the gang were chiefly against 
the Pottawatomie Indians; that after raiding an In- 
dian camp and stealing a number of ponies they 
were followed by the Indians and a fight ensued in 
]\Iarion Township, in which two of their number 
and one Indian were killed. The Indians then, so 
the story goes, in retaliation commenced depreda- 
tions on the other settlers, which led to the calling 
out of 2,000 militia. The Heatherle3's lost some 
others of their number, and the rest of the gang left 
the country for parts unknown. The Indians sur- 
rendered, were giveri a trial at Richmond, Ra)^ 
County, and acquitted. 

An entry in the Government Field Book, dated 
April 27, 1837, in describing the location of certain 
sections refers to "a cabin known bv the name of 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 19 

the Heatherley Den, here hvecl a nuniljer of men 
who created the trouble with the Iowa Indians in 
the summer and fall of 1836. Cabin about ten 
chains to the S. W. and inhabited at the present 
time by Minter Brassfield.'' 

Warden Matt Hall, of the state penitentiary, in 
response to an' inquiry by the author, says that after 
a thorough search of the records he fails to find 
that any person of the name of Heatherley was in 
the penitentiary in this period. From these evi- 
dences it appears that the disturbance caused by the 
gang- was in the year 1836 and that things becom- 
ing too warm here they left of their own accord 
instead of being sent to the penitentiary. The cabin 
referred to was situated northwest of tlie present 
site of Gait, and near the present residence of 
George Winters. 

Glasgow, on the Missouri River, loo miles 
away, Richmond, Ra}- County, and IJruns^vick ^^ ere 
the chief trading points in those days. Nearly all 
merchandise bought was paid for in skins, furs, 
honey, venison, beeswax, hogs, etc. Monev was a 
very scarce article, and what little there was in the 
community was generally used to enter land. They 
did not go shopping often then, once a year suffic- 
ing for the average settler. The annual pilgrimage 
to market was an important event. The equipage 
on the way to to\\n would consist of an ox team and 
a wagon loaded with skins, venison, etc., hogs fol- 
lowing, fattening on the mast along the way, and 
men enough to drive the hogs. Hogs were raised 
cheaply, and when driven somewhat more than a 
hundred miles to market sometimes brought as high 
as two cents a pound. On the return trip the wagon 



20 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

would be loaded with a barrel of sugar, barrel of 
whiskey and other household necessities, such as 
turpentine, powder, tin cups, etc. 

Grundy County had not been settled long until 
it had a store of its own. Daniel Devaul, who came 
to Moore's settlement in 1835, built there the first 
store in that year. It was a pretentious building* 
for that time, being built of hewed instead of round 
logs, and plastered with lime instead of mud. The 
store was located not far from where the court 
house now stands. The first merchants to occupy 
it were James S. Lomax and his l^rother-in-law^ 
Thomas Jacobs, who for a short time were partners 
in the mercantile business. 

The settlement first called Moore's, and later 
known as "the Bluffs," now became known as 
Lomax's Store. Lomax, however, did not long" 
have a monopoly on the mercantile business. Wm. 
Thrailkill and brother started a store the following 
year and they w^ere soon followed by James L. Hen- 
shaw. Supplies for the stores were hauled from 
Richmond, Glasgow and Brunswick, at the rate of 
sixty to seventy-five cents per one hundred pounds. 

The land on which Lomax's store was built, 
with the greater part of the present site of Trenton, 
was bought by Wm. Cochran at Government price, 
$1.25 per acre. He sold it to James R. Merrill for 
$400. 

Post office facilities were the most primitive 
until after 1839. Spring Hill in Livingston and 
Mill Port in Daviess County were the nearest post 
offices. Any one going to either of these places 
would get the mail for the whole neighborhood, 
and, after that store was established, leave it at 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 21 

Lomax's store. In the year 1839, liowever, a post 
office was established at Bluff Grove, as it \vas 
called, with James S. Lomax, postmaster. He was 
succeeded by George Moberly in 1842, w4io served 
eio-ht vears, durino- which time the name of the 
place was changed to Trenton. 

\\'hile a part of Livingston County, the people 
took an active part in political affairs. This county 
and Mercer formed a part of the two townships, 
Sugar Creek and Muddy Creek. Elections in 
Sugar Creek Township, which lay west of the east 
fork of Grand River, were held at the house of Wm. 
Peery ; in Muddy Creek Township, which was east 
of the east fork, at the house of Daniel Devaul. 
Wm. Thompson was presiding judge of the Liv- 
ingston County Court from 1839 until the organiz- 
ation of this county. 

It was in these days that the first roads were 
laid out in this county. The first was called the 
Iowa trail. Petition for it w^as filed by George 
Tetherow, and the road led from Chillicothe to Sec- 
tion 35, Township 62, Range 24, now the south 
central part of Lincoln Township. The next road, 
established in 1839, ran from Chillicothe to the 
house of Wm. Thompson. The first merchant's 
license granted for a resident in this county was 
g-ranted by the Livingston County Court to James 
Lomax in 1838 as a retailer of merchandise and 
liquors. Livingston County also organized our 
first school district. It was in Trenton Township 
and was organized in 1838. James Merrill was ap- 
pointed commissioner and Martin Winn and 
Samuel Benson school inspectors. 

"From Mrs. Jarvis W^oods, one of the female 



22 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

pioneers, who came to Grundy County with her 
father, Daniel Devaul, in 1835," says the old 
Grundy County History, "is given a short account 
of what the wives of the early settlers performed as 
their part of the work for the regeneration of the 
wilderness. The old lady is hale and hearty, 
(1881), claims that her early days were full of hap- 
piness as hard work, and she holds in slight con- 
tempt the effeminate beauties of the present day, 
who lack of courage and the will to do — that was 
the glorious trait the young women of olden times 
possessed, and what made them the equals of, and 
fit wives and associates for the men of those days. 
The wedding tour of Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis Woods 
was a horseback ride of about six miles, ending in 
the woods at a temporar}- log shanty. There the 
young bride jumped from her horse and took pos- 
session of her home. It was built of slabs or 
puncheons, placed against a large white oak tree, 
and they were kept in their places by heavy logs 
placed against them. And in telling the author of 
this bridal tour and her new home, Mrs. Woods 
said she w^as just as happy as she could be. The 
floor of her house was of mother earth. Her chief 
cooking utensil was an iron bake-pan, used in old 
times to make a pone of corn bread and to bake an 
occasional biscuit. The wTiter was shown this relic 
of olden time. It is doing duty now as a lye pot. 
This young bride also had a skillet, and with a 
gourd, or a tin cup or two, she had her culinary out- 
fit. It would give a farmer's bride of today a chill 
of absolute despair if she were introduced to such 
an establishment. Well, that was the bride's home 
for six short (not long) weeks before their new 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 23 

palace residence was completed. This happened in 
February, 1838 — the couple being married on the 
26th of February by Squire Thrailkill, and the road 
to their home was simply a not over-beaten pathway 
in the woods. vShe milked the cow, and cooked, and 
sewed, wove and spun, and went to mill, thus doing 
her part and keeping her end of the line taut. They 
made their bread literally by the sweat of their 
brows and led happy and contented lives. They 
were the first couple married in Grundy county. A 
calico or a gingham dress in those days was a piece 
of finery good enough to visit in or go to church, 
but you would oftener see a new home spun dress 
do duty on the same occasion; then these fine 
dresses would last a year or two, and it took eight 
yards for a dress. Hoop-skirts had not yet put in 
an appearance and pin backs were of another day 
and generation. So w^ith the multiplicity of duties 
the young wife kept on her way. By and by, when 
the family had grown up around them, cares began 
to increase and the wife and mother was often com- 
pelled to sit up night after night that the husband's 
and children's clothes might be mended, their 
stockings darned, and the preparations for the com- 
ing morning's work made ready. Then it was dis- 
covered that the woman's work is never done. The 
household was asleep. The tired husband and 
father was resting his weary limbs in dreamland, 
the children were tossing here and there on their 
beds as restless children always do. Nature itself 
had gone to rest and the outer world was wrapped 
in darkness and gloom, but the nearly exhausted 
mother still sewed on and on, and the midnight was 
still shedding its pale light over the work 



24 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

or the vigils of the loved and loving mother. And 
this is the record of the thousands of noble women, 
the female pioneers, whose daily presence, loving 
hearts, earnest work and keen judgment, made the 
work of civilization and progress one of success. 
And the question has often times been asked, 'What 
would the men of olden times have done if the 
women of olden times had not been with them.-'' and 
the reply comes back, 'Ah! yes, what would they 
have done?' " 

"Uncle Jacky" Moore, one of the most interest- 
ing characters in Grundy County, and probably its 
oldest settler, says that in the spring of 1833 his 
brother-in-law, Wm. Cochran, came to Grundy 
Countv and put in about seven acres of corn in a 
field extending from near where the court house 
now stands to the overhead bridge. The first plant- 
ing was taken by wild pigeons. He, then a boy of 
ten, came from Daviess County, where his father 
lived, and stayed with his brother-in-law, keeping 
the pigeons away from the corn. The birds nested 
in a scrub oak thicket on the present site of the fair 
grounds. Within a few years they had disappeared 
through Mercer County into Iowa. 

His father, Levi Moore, came with his large 
family in the fall of 1833, and wnth his sons-in-law 
formed Moore's settlement on the ground on which 
the city of Trenton is built. The United States sur- 
vey not yet being made, every man helped himself 
to whatever land he wanted. 

Mr. Moore is a man of excellent memory and 
tells vividly occurrences of early days. He was a 
soldier in the INIexican war, made the trip across 
the plains in the early fifties, returned by way of 




Ruins of old Peery home near Edinbiirg. 



26 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

the isthmus of Panama, and has had numerous ad- 
ventures with Indians. On one occasion, when he 
was fifteen years old, the Iowa Indians came down 
from Fort Des Moines, Iowa, on a horse trading 
expedition, preparatory to moving- further west. 
They secured a good many horses from the new set- 
tlements in Grundy County, giving their notes in 
payment, payable when they should receive their 
allowance from the government. He, having 
learned the Indian language, was sent to Fort Des 
Moines to collect the notes when they became due. 
He w^as one night and two da3^s on the way, going 
the most of the time without food. A short dis- 
tance across the Iowa line he reached a trail which 
led him directly to the fort. Here he collected pay- 
ment in full for every note as the Indians received 
their allowance from the government, and after- 
wards had considerable excitement riding in the 
races in which the Indians took great delight. 

Charles Scott, a son of John Scott, disputes with 
Mr. Moore the honor of being the oldest living resi- 
dent of Grundy County. His father came with Dr. 
Thompson and Harvey Meek in the fall of 1833, 
and for a time the three with their families lived in 
one log cabin. They had previously been in this 
county and were attracted by the number of bee 
trees and the plentifulness of game. They settled 
on the west branch of Grand River, which in honor 
of Dr. Thompson, is now known as Thompson's 
fork. 

Dr. Thompson was one of the leading men in 
this part of the state, not only a physician of repute 
but a level headed business man. Mr. Scott tells a 
story of a unique prescription given by him. The 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 27 

patient was very ill and nervous when Dr. Thomp- 
son was called. The doctor, after a critical exami- 
nation, said: "The first thing Til prescribe is a pint 
of hog's fat. yieh it and give it to me now." The 
wondering wife of the patient soon brought him the 
melted lard. The door of the log cabin, as of other 
cabins, was made of two puncheons stood on end 
and fastened together and was fastened to the side 
of the house by wooden hinges in such a way that 
it creaked hideously when opened. Without a word 
Dr. Thompson took the lard and poured it over the 
hinsres and down the side of the door and over the 
floor where the friction was greatest, and pro- 
ceeded to further treatment of the case. 

The typical house of that time consisted of one 
room. It was built of logs, of course, and had a 
puncheon floor. To provide light a log was left out 
of one side of the house. Xails were not to be had, 
and for a roof, clapboards were fastened overhead 
by weight poles. The chimney was made of sticks 
and clay. The fire place took up a good part of one 
side of the house. The door was made of puncheons, 
as previously described. The bed was made by 
fastening a post in the floor and running poles from 
this post into holes bored into the logs of the wall on 
the two cornering sides of the house. Chairs were 
made of hickory bark, and the few other necessary 
articles required to furnish a house were equally 
crude. 

The following list includes most of the names of 
those who were here prior to the time the county 
was organized. There may 1 e a few names there 
that ought not to be and are, doubtless, several not 
there that ought to be, but the list is as nearly com- 



28 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



plete and correct as it can conveniently l)e made: 



Daniel Aslil)i'()ok. 
David Aslibrook. 
W. M. Ashln-ook, 
Stanley Arbuekle, 
Phillip Ashbrook, 



Riley Burgess, 
John Berry, 
John Bennett. 
James Bennett. 
Hamilton Bennett. 
Wm. Bennett. 
Moses Bennett. 
Walter Bennett, 
Eiehard Bennett. 
David Benson. 
Noah Benson. 
Wm. C. Benson, 
Samuel I)enson. 
Robert II. Benson, 
James Brown, 
Daniel Broek. 
Sampson Beat hand, 
George Bunch, 



B. 



•b)s( ph Applegate, 
4aeol) Api)legate, 
•Ifimes Applegate, 
W. ^I. Anderson, 
Josiah Andei'son. 



James Ihuieh, 
Riason lUiin, 
.lesse Bain, 
'laeob Bain, 
]\ I inter Brassfield, 
James R. Blackburn, 
Reuben Brassfield, 
.b)hn l)]ackl)uri], 
Wm. W. l^.ond, 
John W. l5ond, 
('aleb Brooks, 
Richard Belshe, 
Sanmel Benner, 
Howard B. Best, 
China Best, 
Humphrey Best, 
Jarvis C. Boies, 
James Blizzard. 



Thomas Cole, 
Thomas Clark, 
Wm. Cole, 
AVm. Cox, 
Zela Conkling. 
Samuel Chestnut. 
David Cole. 
Charles Chappel. 
Edward Cox. 
Archibald Chitwood, 
W. T. Cornwell. 
W. M. Cornwell, 
B. B. Cornwell, 
Wm. Cochran. 
John Charlton, 
Arthur C'harlton. 
James Chappel. 



John Chappel, 
James Claypole, 
John Chaney, 
John Casteel, 
Richard Chenoweth, 
Wm. Collins. 
Erris Casteel. 
Lemuel Casteel. 
AVm. Casteel. 
Waddy L. Curran, 
Peter Connor, 
Wm. Clark, 
James Cash, 
Thos. N. Carnes, 
IMichael Christian, 
John Carro. 
Benj. B. Casteline, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



29 



Jas. K. Danifuly. 
Cornelius Darnaby 
Jno. S. Darnaby, 
Daniel Devaul, 
James Devaul, 
Joseph Davis, 
Hugh Davis, 
Andrew Davis. 



Ezra B. Evans. 
Allen England. 
Jas S. Estes, 
Wm. Estes. 



E. 



G. W. Diekson, 
Geors:e Drinkard. 
JohirDille, 
George Doekery. 
Thomas Col)bins, 
Mrs. Da^'is. 
Mrs. .1. \l. Devaul, 



Wm. Evans. 
Moses T. Ellis, 
AYm. Elkins, 
Thos. Ettinger, 



Edmund Ferguson, 
AVm. Friier. 
B. A. Ferrill, 
Stephen Forbes, 
AA^m. Fitzpatrick, 
B. A. Fewell. 
Larkin Fields. 



Wm Gentry. 
Gideon Gouck. 
Moses Gee, 
John J. Gibson, 



Charles Human, 
James J. Hobbs, 
Samuel Howard. 
M. H. Harlan, 
Marshall Humphreys, 
Henry M. Henderson, 
John Henry, 
Henry Hampton, 
E. B. Harris. 
Thomas Hamilton. 
George W. Hamilton, 
Michael Hornbeek, 
John Harsher, 



G. 



H. 



('. H. Forkner, 

A. B. Forkner, 
James H. Ford, 
Samuel Forner, 
Abram Fields. 
Henry Foster. 
-Joseph Faulkner, 

E. F. Grubbe. 
W. B. Grubbe, 

B. Gentry, 



James Harvey, 
Robert Hobbs, 
Jesse Harris, 
Wm. Hawkins, 
Jas. F. Hamilton, 
Jno. C Hamilton, 
Thos. Hutton, 
Jno. H. Hurst, 
Jas. Houston, 
Jas. L. Henshaw, 
John Holloway, 
James Hennings. 
John Holloway. 



Elisha Inmaii. 




u 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



31 



Thomas W. Jacobs. 
John Johnson, 
James Johnson, 



Samuel Kilburn, 
Thomas Kilburn, 
Samuel Kelso, 
Samuel Knight, 



Thomas C. Jones, 
Samuel Johnson, 
Alvin Johnson, 



K. 



W. M. Keith, 

]\ Loses Kirkendall, 

Levi Keith, 



James Lucas, 
Nathaniel M. Landy 
Martin D. Long, 
AVm. Long, 
Harvey Lov^% 
J. Livingston, 



M. 



AVm. McAfee, 
Daniel McAtee, 
John S. Miller, 
John Mickey, 
Wm. iMcCammon, 
John McCammon, Sr., 
John iMcCammon, Jr., 
Norris jMcCammon, 
]\Iadison B. ]\loss, 
Kichard Minchcl, 
Abiel ]\liles, 
John Moore, 
Charlotte Merrill, 
Levi Merrill, 
Talton Masters, 
Hiram Marshel. 
Jam^s Morgan, 
Jesse Miller, 



N. 



R. T. Nance, 
James Nordyke, 
Jewett Norris, 



John Lambert, 
Benj S. Lomax, 
Richard S. Lomax. 
James S. Lomax, 
Henry W. Lida, 
r-Irs. Linney, 



AV. P. McAfee, 
Jas. H. jNIeek, 
Kobt. B. Moss, 
]Milton I\lvers. 
Wiu I\Ietcalf, 
Lewis Myers, 
R. D. Manzey, 
AKred 3,Iordley, 
Benjamin IMourning, 
ijevi ]\Ioore, 
Elijah Meddle, 
James R. Merrill, 
James May, 
A. Moore, 
Geo. McCready, 
John ]\IcHargue, 
James INI ay, 
Norris IMetcalf, 



John jM Nichols, 
George Nocks, 



Russell Ox lord, 
Hugh Ogden, 



If arvev O'Dell, 



32 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



X'. 



James Phillips. 
J(»lin Priesi, 
Ttobert Peeiy, 
C W. Pres^tt. 
Pavid Phillins. 



FraiK'is Petty, 
Wesley Reynolds, 
John Ralls, 
Henrv Rodgers, 
Alex.' V. Ralls, 
James D. Roberts, 
Morgan Ralls, 
Calvin Renfro. 
John Roekhold. 



R. 



Kvan l^eery, 
Albert G. Pugh, 
Arehi):ald Peery, 
Thomas Peery, 
Thomas Pemberton, 



William Reed, 
J. C. Renfro, 
Jetson Ray, 
]\Iareellns Renfro, 
William Renfro, 
Carter N. Reynolds, 
Joseph Rooks, 
Priah Rooks, 
James Rooks. 



Dnncan R. Standbey, 
John Stueker, 
Jethro Sires, 
James Slinger, 
L. P. Shirley, 
Isaac Shirley, 
John Seott,' 
Joseph Sherring, 
Moses Sherring, 
Benj. Saxton, 
Charles AV. Seott, 



John Sires, 
Edward Smith, 
ITiram Smith, 
Allen Scott, 
Yancy Stokes, 
Lee Spencer, 
Wm. Schooler. 
Daniel Schooler, 
Chas. Schooler. 
Jacob Spear. 
James Sperry, 



AVilliam P. Thompson. 
Bazel Tiusley, 
George Tetherow. 
Rev. Thomas Thompson. 
Jacob Thrailkill, 
Sarah Tandy, 
Thomas Tootle, 
Lorenzo U. Thompson, 
George Trout, 

V. 

John Varney, 

W. 

Benj. P. AVood. 
Henrv A^^xxl. 



P. 11. Thomj)S()n, 
AVm. Thornburg, 
lienj. Townsend, 
AVm. Thrailkill, 
John R. Turner, 
Richard Turner, 
Thomas Tucker, 
Wythe Temple, 



Phillip AVild. 
James AVilson. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



33 



Win. Wyatt. 
James Work, 
Felix Wild, 
Andrew Weldon, 
Aaron Wilson, 
James Weldon, 
Royal AVilliams. 
Richard Williams, 
George Wood, 
Wm. Willis, 
John G. Woods. 
Bryan F. Woods. 
Harrison Weldon, 
Henderson Work, 



Alex. Work, 
Henry Warriner. 
Henry AVarmonth. 
Jarvis Woods, 
Wm. Woldridge, 
Martin AVinn, 
G. AV. AVarmouth, 
Carter AVhitefield, 
Terry Wilson, 
Franklin AVoods, 
E. L. Winters, 
Coonrod AVolz, 
D. S. AVinters, 
Nathan AVinters, 



"When the Springtime touch is lightest 

Or tlie autumn sings most drear; 
When the Winter's hair is whitest. 

Sleep, old pioneer! 
Safe beneath the sheltering soil. 

Late enough you crept; 
You were weary of the toil 

Loiig before you slept. 
Well you paid for every blessing, 

Bought with grief each day of cheer; 
Nature's arms around you pressing, 

Nature's lips j^our brow caressing, 

Sleep, old pioneer." — Will Carleton. 




Big Rock, near Trenton. 



34 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



CHAPTER II. 



GRUNDY COUNTY ORGANIZED— Boundaries— The First Courts 
— County Seat Commission — First Eleven Townsliips — Condi- 
tion of the Country — Stock Marks — Wolves Cause Trouble — 
Oxen the Chief Draught Animals — Grundy a Slave Holding 
County — Some old Grocery Store Accounts — How Accounts 
were settled — The First County Judges — .Minutes of the First 
Court Meeting — Carelessness in Keei^ing Early Records — 
Work of the First Grand Juries — I^incoln Township Fights 
for the County Seat — The City of Trenton Laid Out — A Court 
House Built — The Year of High Waters — Grundy County in 
the Mexican War — The First Deaths — The Gold Fever — 
Major Hubbell on Early Times — The First Deed of Record — 
An Interesting Document. 



G 



RUNDY COUNTY'S official exist- 
ence dates from January 29, 1841. It 
was one of a number of counties or- 
ganized by an act of the legislature, 
approved on that date. That part of 
the act appertaining to this county 



reads as follows : 
"(Page 10) Section 13. 

All that portion of territory north of Living- 
ston, and included wnthin the following limits, viz. ; 
Beginning at the northeast corner of Livingston 
county, thence north, with the section line, twenty- 
one miles, or to the corner of section nine, ten, fif- 
teen, and sixteen, township sixty-three north, of 
range twenty-two west of the fifth principal merid- 
ian, thence west, thence along the section line 
dividing sections nine and sixteen, containing said 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 35 

section line west to range line dividing ranges 
twenty-five and twenty-six, thence south with said 
line to the northwest corner of Livingston county, 
thence east with said county line to the place of be- 
ginning, is hereby created a separate and distinct 
county, to be called and known l)y the name of 
the County of Grundy. 

Section 14. — The circuit and county court of 
said County shall be held at the dwelling house of 
Jas. S. Lomax, in said County, until the permanent 
seat of justice for said County is established, or the 
county court shall otherwise direct. 

Section 15. — John Minnis of Linn County, Jere- 
miah S. Stockart and John Wolfscale of Livingston 
County are hereby appointed commissioners to se- 
lect a permanent seat of justice for said county." 

The County thus established is twenty and one- 
half miles north and south and twenty-one miles 
east and west. Until 1845 i^ consisted of eleven 
townships as follows : Washington, Jefferson, 
Aladison, Franklin, Morgan, Marion, Lafayette, 
Scott, Clark, Monticello and Trenton. 

The first seven were established by the Living- 
ston County Court in 1839. The last four by the 
Grundy County Court in 1841. The records of that 
court for the first five years, except the minutes of 
the first meeting, are destroyed. 

By this time the county was pretty well settled 
except in the northwest part. Imagining the i)res- 
ent township boundaries to have been established 
at the time of the county's organization, their 
order in population and wealth was as follows : 
Trenton, Lincoln, Marion, Wilson, Madison, Lib- 
erty, Jackson, Jefferson, Myers, Franklin, Harri- 



36 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

son, Washington and Taylor. The principal trad- 
ing point was Brunswick, save for those who lived 
near Lomax's store. It was by this time pretty well 
recognized — was, in fact, almost a village; and it 
was the only village in the county up to 1850. 

The cabins of the settlers were at this time miles 
apart, and the country was a wilderness, full of 
game, and frequently visited by Indians. The set- 
tlers followed the streams and had as yet found no 
use for the rich prairie land. The first settlers to 
build cabins on the prairie were laughed at and told 
that they would surely freeze out when winter 
came. Still it was necessity rather than prejudice 
that caused the first settlers to locate on the streams. 
Timber was necessary for home and fuel, and here 
he found the game and bee trees on which his sub- 
sistence so largely depended. It was thought, too, 
that water could not 1)e had on the prairies, the set- 
tlers not learing to dig for living water until late in 
the last century. 

Mail was carried on horseback and delivered a I 
Lomax's store tri-weekly. Postage was t^^'ellty- 
five cents a letter and newspapers were rare. Other 
means of communication being scarce, every stran- 
ger who happened iiiio a communitv was quickl-/ 
and thoroughly pumped dry of all he ever knew or 
hoped to know. 

Stock ran at large. Each settler used a pecul- 
iar mark by which he could claim his ov;n. Cattle 
w'tve generally branded. Each farmer might re- 
cord the mark he used, thus getting preemption to 
that mark in this count}'. Two hundred and fifty- 
nine marks have been thus recorded, one hundred 
of which run back to i860 and thirt}'-three prior to 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 37 

1850. 

Here are a few of the first marks recorded : 

"April 16, 1841, Thomas M. Carries records his 
stock mark with a crop and sht in right ear, and un- 
derbit in left ear.'' 

"April 12, 1 84 1, Wm. Evans records his stock 
mark with a smooth crop off of and two slits in right 
ear and slit in left ear." 

Wolves were a source of constant troul:)le and 
to encourage their destruction the county paid a 
bounty of $i.oo a scalp. On the fly leaf of an old 
record of county warrants some official has in- 
scribed in the unique spelling and penmanship of 
the time the following form of affidavit : 

"You do solemly swar (or affirm ) that the wolf 
the scalps of which produced by you w^ere killed by 
you or some meml^er of your family within this 
county since the first day of January, A. D. 1843." 

A good per cent of its people coming from Ken- 
tucky and Virginia, Grundy County naturally had 
Cjuite a number of slaves. On the tax books of 1848 
one hundred and thirty slaves were assessed, and 
in the year 1856 there were two hundred and four- 
teen. The number gradually increased with the 
population of the county until the war. When land 
was bought for $1.25 an acre, negroes were valued 
at three to six hundred dollars, a good healthy 
negro being worth a four or five hundred-acre 
farm. Notwithstanding this, when the war broke 
out Grundv Countv was stronglv for the Union, 
and some of the most pronounced Union men were 
slave owners. A few free negroes lived in the 
county prior to 1861, the records of the county 
court showing that the court granted license to 



38 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

two to live here. The orders, which were made in 
1851 and 1856, respectively, are as follows: "Jef- 
ferson W^aterford, alias Thompson, a free man of 
color, files a certificate of good character, and ap- 
plies for a license to live within the state of Mis- 
souri, and it is ordered that he give bond for his 
good behavior. Said J. Waterford files a bond for 
his good behavior with Wm. Metcalf and John R. 
Scott as his securities, which is approved, this De- 
cember 16, 185 1." 

"Randall Darnaby, a free man of color, having 
been emancipated by C. Darnaby, his former mas- 
ter, applies for a license to remain in the state, and 
having produced satisfactory^ evidence of good 
moral character, it is ordered by the court that said 
Randall, now about thirt3^-five years of age, five 
feet six and a half inches high, dark brown color, 
and 150 pounds weight and scar under right ear, 
be and he is hereby licensed to remain in the state 
of Missouri, having given bond as is required by 
law." 

One of the most interesting documents among 
the official records of the county is the ledger of 
the grocer}^ firm, Renfro & Arbogart for the year 
1849. ^^^^ accounts of this firm did not quite fill 
the book; so in strict accord with the county 
court's ideas of economy at that time eight pages 
in the back of the book were used for official rec- 
ords. In that way the ledger itself came into the 
possession of the count}'. 

Messrs. Renfro & Arbogart sold cigars four for 
five cents, tea per lb. $1.20. 

Whiskey and molasses, each per gal. 60 cents. 

Powder per lb. 40 cents. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



39 



Tin pan 70 cents. 

Coffee "Biler" 60 cents. 

Candy was a favorite luxury and *'Ammonds" 
Turpentine, Candels, Mustart, Mackerel and Vine- 
gar were among the articles sold. 

At least one member of this firm is said to have 
been a pillar in the church and among its custom- 
ers are found the names of the most prominent men 
in the county among them being at least one mm- 

ister. 

In view of these facts, the following typical ac- 
count is interesting : 

1849 

Sept. 6, to I box caps, 2 drinks, & tobacco 25 

Sept. 6, to I cake and i drink 10 

Oct. 6, to candy & i drink 15 

Oct. 15, to I gal. & I quart whiskey 70 

Oct. 29, to 3 drinks ^5 

Nov. 3, to whiskey & drinks 55 

Nov. 3, to 3 drinks & tobacco 25 

Nov. 6, to cash borrowed 05 

Nov. 12, to 12 lbs. coffee i-S^ 

Nov. 14, to I drink & cash i5 

Nov. 24, to 6 apples & Tobacco 25 

Nov. 29, to I gal. I qt. & i drink by Marcellus .80 

Dec. 26, to crackers 05 

Dec. 29, to I pint peach brandy by Alarcellus. . .35 
Dec. 29, to ballance on dipper ^ • -05 

The following account was made by one of the 
greatest men Grundy County ever had, one of 
whom all her people are proud. While only a 
month is given, it is fairly representative of his 
year's trade : 



40 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

1849. 

Nov. 2, to 2 drinks 10 

Nov. 3, to I bottle, I pint, i drink 35 

Nov. 3, to half bottle whiskey 10 

Nov. 7, to 4 cigars, i drink 10 

Nov. 12, 2 drinks i pint Mongehale 25 

Nov. 13, 1 qt. Mongehale, i paper tobacco 20 

Nov. 14, 9 drinks, 2 bottles 85 

Nov. 17, to I flask & 5 drinks 35 

Nov. 19 to 2 drinks 10 

Nov. 22, to I pt. I glass I drink IMongehale . . .35 

Nov. 23, to I bottle I qt whiskev 35 

Nov. 24, to I drink 05 

Nov. 26, to I drink, whiskey & cigars 55 

Nov. 28, to I pt Mongehale i paper tobacco. . .20 

Perhaps a third of the cnstomers borrowed 
money of the firm, in amounts ranging from five 
cents to one and even two dollars. Pa3aiients on 
account were often made in ^-enison. When the 
books were "ballanced" at the close of the year, a 
number of the customers who had not the cash to 
settle their accounts gave notes. One who was in 
later years a very prominent citizen, is credited 
with "one note of hand, 15 cents." 

Occasionally there was difficulty in making a 
settlement, as appears from the following entry 
in the Book of Peter H. Yakey and of Simpson 
Burgin, J. P. 

"I. C. P. H. Renfro, Againts Henry Wood. 

This suit brought on account as follows: 

Trenton, Feb. 11, 1854. 
Henry Wood I. C. P. H. Renfro Dr. 

Sept. 5 to amt on grocery book $1.85. Sum- 
mons issued on the 4th June, 1855 and directed to 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 41 

the constable of Trenton 'J\3\vnship citing" the said 
Henry Wood to appear l)efore the cort on the 14th 
of June 1855 which summons was exemited as fol- 
lows served the within by reading to defendant this 
the 4th day of June 1855 R. T. Yantes Constable. 

Trenton Township. 

June 14th 1855 Plaintiff appeared and proved 
his account And I therefore gave judgment for 
$1.85 debt and damages and also for cost, 50 cents. 

Simpson Burgin, J. P. 

The County Court of Grundy County first met 
February 22, 1841. Wm. Thrailkill had been ap- 
pointed sheriff by Governor Reynolds, and the first 
county judges, or justices as they were called, were 
Jewett Norris, Robert PeiNTy and Isaac J. Harvey. 
W. O. Thompson was clerk pro tem. Following is 
a vcrhatiin copy of the record of that meeting: 

state of Missouri 
County of Grundy: 

Be it remembered that on the twenty-second day of Febru- 
ary in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and 
forty-one, Isaac J. Harvey, Robert Perry and Jewett Norris met 
at the store house of James S. I^omax in pursuance of an act 
of the Gene.ral Assembly of the state aforesaid approved Janu- 
ary the twenty-ninth, in the year aforesaid, and they severally 
produced their commissions as County Court justices of said 
county and were each severally sworn to support the constitu- 
tion of the United States and of the State of Missouri and faith- 
fully demean themselves in office as said justices, whereupon 
they proceeded to organize the County Court of said County by 
appointing Jewett Norris president of said court and William P. 
Thompson the clerk of said court pro tem, the court requiring 
the said Thompson to file a bond in the penal sum of five thou- 
sand dollars conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties 
of his office, and thereupon the said Thompson came into the 
court and files said bond with James R. Merrill, Alfred Caldwell 
and Wm. Thrailkill as his securities, which said bond was ap- 



42 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

proved by said court and the said Thompson being sworn into 
office proceed to discharge the duties of said clerk, and there- 
upon appointed Benjamin F. Wood who took the same oatli as 
deputy clerk of said court. 

Ordered tliat said clerk be authorized to procure the nec- 
essary blank books stationary and a standard of weiglits and 
measures for the use if Grundy County. 

Ordered that the clerk of this county be required to call 
upon the County Court of Livingston County for permission to 
withdraw from the clerk's office such papers and documents as 
belongs to the County of Grundy. 

Ordered that an election be held at the home of Joseph 
Sherrin for Jefferson Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, 
for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of 
Grundj', two justices of the peace and one constable for said 
township and that John M. Nichols, Josiah Anderson and Ham- 
ilton Bennett be appointed judges of said election. It is request- 
ed that a pole be opened for county surveyor and assessor for 
said County. 

Ordered that an election be held at the store of Isaac J. 
Harvey for Madison Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, 
for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of 
Grundy, three justices of the peace and that Evans^ Peery, David 
Phillips and Wm. McCammeron be appointed judges of said 
election it is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor 
and assessor for said County. 

Ordered that an election be held at the home of Benj. F. 
Wood for Washington township on the 20th day of March, 1841, 
for the purpose of electing one countj^ clerk for the County of 
Grundy, two justices of the peace and one constable and that 
Thomas Carnes, Cornelius Darnaby and John McHargue be 
appointed judges of said election, it is requested that a pole be 
opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. 

Ordered that an election be held at the house of John Harts 
for Lafayette Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the 
purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundy 
and two justices of the peace for said Township and that David 
Mullins, Seaborn Rhea and Alexander Cane be appointed judges 
of said election. It is requested that a pole be opened for county 
surveyor and assessor for said County. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 43 

Ordered that an election be held at the house of James Mor- 
gan for Jklorgan township on the twentieth day of March, 1841, 
for the purpose of electing one county clerk for the county of 
Grundy and two justices of the peace for said township and that 
James ]\Iorgan Samuel Prewitt and James Girdner be appointed 
judges of said election. It is requested that the pole be opened for 
county surveyor and assessor of said county. 

Ordered that an election be held at the home of Winters 

for Marion Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for the 
purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of Grundy 
and two justices of the peace and that Calvin Brummitt, Jenj. 
Parkers and Jacob Work be appointed judges of said election. It 
is requested that a pole be opened for county surveyor and as- 
sessor for said County. 

Ordered that an election be held at the house of John Thrail- 
kill for Franklin Township on the 20th day of March, 1841, for 
the purpose of electing one county clerk for the County of 
Grundy and that James R. Merrill, Martin Winn and James Kelso 
be appointed judges of said election. It is requested that a pole 
be opened for county surveyor and assessor for said County. 

Ordered that court adjourn to meet on the 26th day of 
March, 1841, at the school house near Bluff Grove. 

JEWETT NORRIS. 

At the election on Alarch 20th, 1841, Thomas 
Jacobs, a brother-in-law of James S. Lomax, was 
elected county clerk, a position he held five years. 
The county clerk at that time acted also as circuit 
clerk and recorder. As will be seen from the order 
of election, Grundy County then consisted of seven 
townships, four more being formed within the year. 
The records of this first session of the county court, 
long supposed to be lost, occupy three pages 
of an old book used as an index of deeds. No other 
portion of the book is given to the county court's 
business. It is apparent that the county court had at 
first no facilities for keeping permanent records 
and equally apparent that they did not appreciate 
the value of such records. It is said that the pro- 



44 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ceedings of the county court were taken on ordi- 
nary cap paper, tied with a string- at the close of 
a session and cast into a convenient corner. So it is 
no wonder that most of the records for the first five 
vears of the county's existence are lost. 

The circuit court held its first meeting at "the 
store house of James S. Lomax," on the 8th of 
April, 1841. James A. Clark was circuit judge. 
Amos Rees, Wm. V. Slack, Robert Ew^ing, B. F. 
Tarr, James Savage, Phillip Edwards and James 
Connor were enrolled as attorneys. Benjamin 
String-fellow was circuit attorney. 

The grand jury at this term returned fifteen in- 
dictments, fourteen of which were for card playing 
and betting, and one for perjury. The following 
from Messrs. Birdsall & Dean's history is no doubt 
pretty generally true : 

"The court in those days seemed to have luit lit- 
tle general legal business, not enough to pay ex- 
penses of the court, so the grand jury was called on 
to fill up the gap by criminal indictments, and they 
went to work with a will. It is proven by the cir- 
cuit court record that card playing was one of the 
leading amusements of that day, as was also betting 
at cards and on the elections. The same record 
Avill show that the grand jury made it their busi- 
ness to indict every man who played cards. They 
indicted about all the county officers, the mer- 
chants, lawyers, doctors, etc., in one grand swoop. 
The indicted ones would go up to the court, plead 
guilty, ask mercy of the court and walk off after 
paying five or ten dollars fine each. Then the play- 
ers would get together and lay for that grand jury. 
The fact is. 'thev all did it,' and when court ad- 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 45 

journed, 'the boys' went to work to play with the 
late members of that august body, and by the time 
the next session of court came around, some three 
months later, they had the entire grand jury. When 
the new grand jury was installed the 'boys' then 
stepped forward like little men, and had the pre- 
vious grand jury indicted to a man for playing cards 
or allowing card playing in houses in their posses- 
sion. It didn't take a great many years to convince 
the grand jury that card playing wasn't so much of 
a criminal affair as was at first supposed. By that 
time civil and criminal suits had become numerous 
enough to make expenses without calling on inno- 
cent and fun-loving gentlemen to contribute their 
mite to support the law and its worthy officers. 
There was a good deal of this kind of fun going on 
in these good old days, and many a diamond cut 
diamond affair is hidden away in the forgotten rec- 
ords of the past." 

Among the earlier causes of offense frequently 
figures the charges of keeping grocery without 
license, keeping dramshop without license, and trad- 
ing with Indians. Convictions for these offenses 
were comparati\'ely rare, and the offenders were, 
when convicted, generally let off with a very light 
fine. 

At the second session of the circuit court began 
the fight between Trenton, or Bluff Grove as it was 
then called, and the Bain settlement in Lincoln 
township for the location of the county seat. The 
latter claimed it by virtue of being in the geograph- 
ical center of the count}-, the former because of age, 
population and natural location on Grand river. 

The act of the legislature creating the county. 



46 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

named a commission consisting" of John ^linnis of 
Linn County and Jeremiah Stockart and John 
Wolfscale of Livingston County, to select the per- 
manent seat of justice for the county seat. These 
gentlemen, from adjoining counties, were supposed 
to be, and no doubt were, impartial. This commit- 
tee, it appears, made the decision in the month of 
May and they reported to the circuit court in the 
August term at Lomax's Store as follows : 

To the honorable, the judge of the circuit court of the 
County of Grundy, State of Missouri: We the commissioners 
apointed at the last session of the legislature of the State of 
Missouri for the purpose of locating a permanent seat of jus- 
tice for the County of Grundy, beg leave to offer the following 
as the result of their proceedings: Having met in pursuance 
of the law we proceeded to examine the face of the country and 
have selected a part of section 34 and 3 in townships 61 and 62 
range 24, as exhibited in the enclosed deeds and paper. 

JOHN W. MINNIS, 
JNO. WOLFSCALE, 
JEREML\H J. STOCKART, 

Commissioners. 
Athens, May, 24, 1841. 

The land thus described was in Lincoln Town- 
ship, almost in the exact geographical center of the 
county. There was nothing there bearing sem- 
blance to a village, and the citizens of Bluff Grove 
strenuously objected to locating the county seat in 
the woods. James S. Lomax led the fight in pro- 
test against the committee's decision, offering 
eip-htv acres of land to the countv free of charge. 
Ten petitions were drawn up and vigorously circu- 
lated in all parts of the county, being worded as 
follows : 

"To the Honorable, the County Court of Grundy County, 
Missouri: Your petitioners would respectfully represent to your 
honors that the seat of justice of Grundy County, Missouri, has 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 47 

been located and not agreeable to our wishes, therefore, we your 
petitioners, would and do prefer the seat of justice at the store 
of James S. Lomax in said County and would therefore pray 
your honorable body to appoint five commissioners to locate the 
seat of justice according to law, and your petitioners will ever 
pray." 

Indorsed on the back of each petition was the 
following : 

"For which I, James S. Lomax, bind myself to donate to the 
County eighty acres of land at Bluff Grove for the location of 
said seat of justice. JAMES S. LOMAX. 

May 18, 1841." 

To change the location as proposed it was nec- 
essary to have three-fifths of the taxable inhabit- 
ants of the county on the petitions. Considerably 
more than that number, in all 260 names were se- 
cured on the petitions, the county having 312 tax- 
able inhabitants at that time. Five commissioners 
from adjoining counties were accordingly named 
by the County Court, who staked out the eiglity 
given by James Lomax and reported to the circuit 
court as follows : 

"To the Honorable Judge of the Grundy Circuit Court: In 
compliance with the order of the Grundy County Court to us 
directed as commissioners appointed by said court for the pur- 
pose of locating the permanent county seat of said County, re- 
spectfully report that we met on the ground selected by the peti- 
tioners of said County on the 5th day of August, 1841, and after 
being duly qualified proceeded to the discharge of our duties, 
and after examining the ground within the boundary prescribed 
by law, have selected the following described premises for the 
permanent seat of said County, to-wit: Beginning at the half 
mile corner stake, being the noi'thwest corner of the northeast 
quarter of section No. 29, of Township No. 67, range 24, run- 
ning south one hundred and twenty-five poles to a stake, then 
east ninety poles to a stake, thence north twenty-eight poles to 
a stake, thence east seventeen poles and four links to a stake, 
thence north ninety-seven poles to a stake, thence west 116 poles 



48 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

to the place of beginning and containing eiglity acres, donated 

by James S. Lomax, for the use of said county for a county seat 

to which premises we, the commissioners, have received a deed 

for the use and behalf of said county, which deed is herewith 

attached. 

All of which is respectfully reported to the Honorable 
Judge of the Grundy Circuit Court, this 6th day of August, 1841. 

TH. R. BRYAN, 
THOMAS JENNINGS, 
JOHN AUSTIN, 
SAMUEL FERNANDIS. 
JAMES H. WILSON. 
To Hon. James A. Clark, Judge."' 

Hereupon, George Tetherow, who led the fight 
for the Bain .settlement, through his attorney. Win. 
Slack, hegan a legal fight to compel the County 
Court to rescind their order taking the county seat 
awa}^ from the banks of the Big Aluddy and re-lo- 
cating it at Lomax Store. 

His first legal document follows: 

state of Missouri, 
County of Grundy: 

County Court, special term, Sept. 13, 1841. 

George Tetherow, a resident householder of Grundy County, 
Missouri, by his attorney, Wm. Y. Slack, moves the court here: 
First, to rescind the order made by the court on the 29 day of 
June, A. D. 1841, at a special term thereof receiving a petition of 
James Livingston and others for the removal of the county seat 
of Grundy County, Missouri, ordering the same to be filed and 
also appointing Thomas R. Bryan, Thomas Jennings, Samuel 
Fernandis and others, commissioners to locate the county seat 
of the said Grundy County, Missouri, and second, to rescind all 
further orders and proceedings made and had in this said court 
relative to or concerning the removal of said county seat of 
Grundy County. 

Filed of record this 13th day of September, 1841. 

W. Y. SLACK Attorney for Plaintiff. 
. THOMAS W. JACOBS, Clerk. 

This paper the court o^'erruled. Tetherow, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 49 

throiigh his attorney, resorted to every means 
which gave any hope of defeating- the removal ot 
the county seat to Lomax Store, l3Ut being defeated 
at every turn, finally gave it up as a hopeless task. 
He failed to appear in the December term of the 
court for 1841, his petition was stricken from the 
docket, and F. W. Poage of Gallatin, Jonas Boyce, 
the first county surveyor, and Mahlon H. Moore 
divided the eighty acres given by Lomax into town 
blocks and lots. 

In the year 1842 a contract was let for the build- 
ing of a new court house. The first sessions of the 
county and circuit courts had been held in Lomax' s 
Store, and succeeding sessions in an old log house 
that was a school house through the week and a 
church on Sundays. Grand juries retired to the 
woods for their deliberations, and indicted ones 
were uncharitable enough to say that a portion of 
the grand jury would engage in a quiet game while 
the remainder ground out indictments, of which 
there were always a large number. 

Wm. Collier, Larkin Richardson and Joseph 
Thompson, all of Howard County, were given the 
contract for building the new court house. It was a 
brick structure, 45x40, two stories high, and cost 
the county $6,000. This building, however, was 
very well in keeping with the population and w^ealth 
of the county at that time. In 1841 there were but 
312 tax payers in the county. 

1844 was a year of high waters. In this county 
considerable damage was done to stock and farm 
improvements. Wm. Perry in this year took two 
flat boats loaded with wheat and corn from Tren- 
ton to St. Loui-. 



50 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUiNTY. 

In 1847 Grundy Count)^ responded loyally to 
the call for volunteers for the jNIexican War. The 
Governor appointed John C. Griffin to raise a com- 
pany here. The company, consisting- of 112 men, 
was a part of Doniphan's command and ^vas with 
him on his famous march through the southwest. 
These Grundy countians constituted a part of the 
company : First Lieutenant, Oliver Bain : Second 
Lieutenant, Ashley Gulley; Third Lieutenant, Ira 
Benson; Privates, J. H. Shanklin, N. A. Winters, 
James ^^'inters, Thomas Auhrey, \\m. \Mnters, 
Milton Aubrey, James Williams, Robert Williams, 
Hlisha A^anderpool, Dock \^anderpool, Jacob T. 
Tindall, David Arbogath, James Tindall, Simon 
Adamson, John Re}'burn, L}'man Odle, Overly 
Clark, J. Puck, John Booher, Sol Spear, Wm. 
Hughes, Ezekiel Long, Sol Cole, Alf Turner, Jno. 
W\ Moore, George Inman, Caleb Knight, John 
Swopes, Geo. Swopes, Wm. Steer, Joseph Moore, 
Tellery Pruit, John R. Clark, Samuel Clark, Gov- 
erneur Fisher, Milton Moore, Sr., Milton Moore, 

Jr., Jacob Bain, Vandyke, Jos. Munn, Joseph 

Kennedy, Jno. I)Urns, Joseph Applegate, John Biols, 
AA^ash Duskins, Lafayette \\^armouth. 

A ferry license across Grand river was granted 
to Samuel Benson in 1848. At that stage of the 
county's development the expense of building a 
bridge was not to be thought of. 

The records for the year 1848 give the names of 
506 taxpayers li\'ing in the county, who owned 
property to the assessed value of $81,365. Almost 
as much was owned by non-residents. The amount 
of state and county taxes collected for the year 1857 
was $6,529.60. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 51 

Perhaps the first death in the county was that of 
Mrs. Daniel Devaul, in February, 1837. Her cof- 
fin was made of a wagon box belonging to Samuel 
Benson. Plank was extremely scarce in the earliest 
period of the county's settlement. Sometimes a 
death would occur and there would l^e no boards in 
the neighborhood to make a coffin. In such cases 
boards were hewed out with a broad ax and sa^ved 
with a whip saw. 

Grundy contributed her share of fortune hunt- 
ers when the gold fever ran high. Of fortune find- 
ers though, she had not so many. Throughout the 
greater part of the fifties the exodus to the west 
continued. The demand for cattle and horses for 
the trip across the plains made trade rather brisk, 
but so many men left home the industr}- of the 
county was neglected for a time. 

Following is an excerpt from a historical ad- 
dress delivered by Major George H. Hubbell on the 
Fourth of July, 1876: 

"The situation as regards general business had 
up to 1842 been depressed for several years. The 
monetary crisis of 1837 still hovered over the land. 
For nearly five years prices of goods and ]M-oducts 
of every description had ruled very low and the pros- 
pect for a raise still seemed far from encouraging, 
and the time somewhat distant. In 1842 I ])aid 
five dollars for the first cow I ever owned, and 
$7.50 for a good cow and calf in trade. Horses 
w^re also cheap ; while the best could be had for $40 
others could be purchased at from $25 to v$35. 
AVorking cattle were down to what they called in 
those days almost nothing, $22 buying a good yoke. 
Hogs, dressed, without much regard to weight. 



52 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 

were held at the enormous price of $1.25 to $1.50 
each — neither were they full of trichina. Garnered 
wheat only brought from 35 to 40 cents a bushel; 
corn 50 cents a barrel, delivered and a good veal 
calf, 75 cents. You could go out into the woods and 
cut down a bee tree, gather the honey and bring it 
to market, and you got 25 cents a gallon for it; it 
was thought the bees got well paid for their honey. 
And such honey, so clear and transparent that even 
the bee keeper of today with his patent hive and his 
Italian swarms would have had a look of envy cov- 
ering his face from ear to ear on beholding it. The 
wild deer came forward and gave us their hams at 
25 cents each, and the settlers generally clinched 
the bargain by taking the skin, which, when not cut 
up into strings or used for patches, brought another 
quarter, cash or trade, as demanded. It was also 
a ha1)it in those clays for farmers to help each other, 
and their sons to work in the harvest fields or do the 
logging to prepare for a new seeding. This was a 
source of wealth to the early settler and to his ris- 
ing family. They raked in 25 to 50 cents a day and 
board. That was wealth. It was the foundation of 
their future prosperity. It was the first egg laid to 
hatch them a farm, and it was guarded with scrupu- 
lous care. Economy was often whittled down to a 
very fine point before the}^ could be induced to 
touch that nest egg, the incipient acre of the first 
farm. And then again, a day's work meant some- 
thing besides getting on the shady side of a tree and 
three hours for nooning. It meant labor in all its 
length and breadth and thickness, from holding the 
breaking plow behind two yoke of oxen to mauling 
rails. Rieht here we will mention that rails were 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 53 

made at 25 cents a hundred. Just think of sphtting 
rails at 25 cents a hundred. It is enough to take 
the breath away from every effeminate counter 
jumper in the state. This covers a good deal of 
what the old pioneer had or received for labor and 
farm products." 

Following is the first deed of record filed in 
Grundy county : 

FIRvST DEED OF RECORD. ■ 

This indenture, made the i8th day of March, in 
the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred 
and forty-one, between George Peery and Jane, his 
wife, of the one part, and Milton L. Moore of the 
other part, of the county of Grundy and the state of 
Missouri. \\'itnesseth that the said George Peery 
and Jane, his wife, for and in conciduation of the 
sum of one hundred dollars to them in hand paid, 
the receipt whereof is hereby fully acknowledged, 
hath o-ranted, bargained, sold, confirm and con- 
veyed, by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, 
confirm and convey unto the said Milton L. Moore 
and his heirs and assigns forever, all of the two fol- 
lowing described tracts of land, lying and being in 
the County of Grundy and State of ^Missouri, in all 
containing eighty acres of land, be the same more 
of less, to be particularly known by the following 
numbers, (viz:) one piece containing forty acres, 
being the north half of the northwest half of the 
northwest quarter of section no. thirteen in town- 
ship no. sixty-one of range no. twentyfive, north of 
the base line and west of the fifth principal mered- 
ian : To have and to hold all of the above discribed 
tracts of land together with all and singular the 
hereditaments and appretenances ther l^elonging or 



54 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

in any wise appertaining, and also all the estates, 
right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever 
of him, the said George Peery and Jane, his wife, 
either in law or equity, of, in and to the above dis- 
cribed tracts of land and all and every part and par- 
cel thereof, unto the said Milton L. Moore, his heirs 
and assisgns forever against the lawful let, claim or 
demand of them, the said George Peery and Jane, 
his wife, or their heirs or assigns and all and every 
person or persons whatsoever, shall, will and by 
these presents do warrant and forever defend. In 
the testimony thereof we have hereunto set our 
hands and seals the day and year above w^'itten in 
the presents of Wm. Renfro. 

GEO. PEERY, (seal) 

JANE PEERY, (seal) 
State of Missouri, 
County of Grundy, ss : 

Be it remembered that on this i8th day of 
March, A. D. 1841, before me, a justice of the peace 
within and for the count}' aforesaid, personally 
came George Peery and Jane, his wife, both per- 
sonally known to me to be the persons whose nan.i.es 
are subscribe to the foregoing instrument of writ- 
ing as having executed the same and severally ac- 
knowdedged the same to be their act and deed for 
the purpose therein mentioned, and she, the said 
Jane Peery being by me first made acquainted with 
the contents thereof and examired separate and 
apart from her husband whether she executed the 
said deed and relinquished her dower to the said 
lands and tenements therein mentioned, voluntarily, 
freely and without compulsion or under influence of 
her said husband, acknowledged and declared that 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



55 



she executed the said deed and rehiKiuishes her 
dower to said lands and tenements thereni men- 
tioned voluntarily, freely and without compulsion 
or under influence of her said husband. Taken and 
certified the day and year first above written. 

WILLIAM! RENFRO, ^ 
Justice of the Peace." 
One of the most interesting official documents of 
early times is a mortgage filed on page 27, volume 
one,' of the recorder's books, of which a part tol- 

lows: .. 1 • ^ ,^t 

"This deed, made and entered into, this tentli 
day of December, A. D. one thousand, eight hun- 
dred forty-one, between Wm Uttinger, ot the State 
of Missouri, and County of Grundy, of the first part 
and John Uttinger of the same state and county 
aforesaid, of the second part, witnesses that the 
party of the first part hath this day m considera- 
tion'of the sum of nine hundred and eighty dollars 
and thirty-six cents, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, hath this day granted, bargamed 
and sold and by these presents doth grant, bargain 
and sell unto the party of the second part, his heirs 
and assigns forever, all his right, title and interest 
in and to the following described real and personal 
property, To-wit : The east half the southwest quar- 
ter of section no. twelve, in township no. sixty ot 
range no. twenty-four, containing eighty acres and 
the southeast quarter of section no eleven m the 
same township and range, as aforesaid, containing 
one hundred and sixty acres and also the west halt 
of the southwest quarter of section no. thirteen, m 
same range and township, as first aforesaid, con, 
taining eighty acres and the said party of the first 



56 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



part doth also by these presents convey and assign 
unto the said party of the second part, a certain 
negro girl named Milly, aged thirty-three and a boy 
named James, aged eighteen months and also three 
head of horses and eighteen head of cattle and also 
all his household and kitchen furniture consisting 
of one bed and bedding, one looking glass, one set 
of chairs, and divers cooking utensils, the party of 
the first part binds himself, his heirs, etc., to war- 
rant and defend the title of the above discribed 
lands, goods and chattels to the said party of the 
second part, etc." 




County Farm, 5 Miles East of Trenton. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE WAR PERIOD— Sentiment Divided— Workers for tlie Union 
— Companies Raised at Trenton — Men Lost at Shiloh — Roll of 
Company B — Other Grundy County Companies — No Confed- 
erate Organization — Picture of Home Life During tlie War — 
The Country — Trenton in 1861 — Politics — Ruffianism — Social 
Life — Correspondence — War Alarms — With the Militia. 



r THE outbreak of the Civil War senti- 

Ament in Grundy County was divided. 
At one time, both Union and Confeder- 
ate troops drilled in the streets of Tren- 
ton. Union sentiment, however, soon 
predominated. Jacob T. Tindall, Jewett 
Norris, Geo. H. Hubbell, Jno. T. Shanklin, R A. De- 
Bolt and Andrew Shanklin were especially active 
in crystallizing sentiment for the Union. In May, 
1861, two meetings w^ere held, Union and Confed- 
erate, at w4iich it w^as clearly shown that this county 
had allied herself strongly with the Union cause. 
Hereupon w^ork was at once begun towards raising 
a regiment. 

This w^ork was completed in August, 1861, 
seven companies being raised. An election was 
held at Trenton, August 25th, at which Jacob Tin- 
dall was made Colonel, and Jacob Smith of Linn 
County, Lieutenant Colonel. The latter, being 
made circuit judge, was not commissioned and was 
succeeded bv Ouinn Morton. John McCullough 




Odd Fellow Building, Water Street, Trenton, Mo. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



59 



of Sullivan County was elected Major. R. A. De- 
Bolt was recruiting officer for the regiment, which 
was known as the Twenty-third Missouri infantry. 
This regiment became a part of Prentiss's com- 
mand, fought heroically and was almost annihilated 
on the field of Shiloh, with the loss of their leader, 
Colonel Tindall. Of the i,ooo of the regiment who 
went into the fight, all but three hundred were 
killed or captured. 

The roll of Company B, almost entirely from 
Grundy County, is as follows : 



K. A. DeBoh. Captain. 

Samuel Rooks, first lieu- 
tenant. Q_ 

Stephen Perry, second 
heutenant, 

Richard Smith, orderly 
sergeant, 

J. W. Babb, 

T. L. Baulser, 

Harver Brazier, 

Chas. Brown, 

Richard Blew, 

David Bravenstott, 

George Blew, 

Calvin Bridges, 

R. A. Collier, 

John Channie, 

Michael Crisman, 

Hans Crisman, 

Chas. Cash, 

James Davis, 

John Davis. 

Benj. C. Eddy, 

Martin Eagan, 

Richard Fleshman, 

Edgar Funk, 

Thomas Farrell, 

John Fleshman, 

Samuel Fleshman, 

Wm. Flesher, 

Ed. Gray, 

Alfred Gardener, 



Carl Leach, 
Geo. Leslie, 
Benj. Leslie, 
AVm. Long, 
Thos. Long, 
Daniel Loraax, 
Juo. AV. Lomax, 
Joseph Moore, 
Sidney Moore, 
Clay McCord, 
Orville Moberly, 
P. McThaney, 

]\IcCammon, 

McCammon, 

Hiram Morris, 
Bose Nichols, 
Benj. Nichols, 
Silas Parres, 
John Phillips, 
Wm. Parr, 
John Pratt, 
James Petree, 
Wm. Petree, 
A. Reynolds, 
Wm. Rooks, 
Joseph Rooks, 
Levi Rinker, 
Frank Rook, 
L. Rickets, 
W. B. Scott, 
Owen Smith, 
Marion Sprout, 



60 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Beiij. House, W. T. Sprout, 

B. F. Harding, A. F. Slocum, 

Seth Hathaway, Marvin Scott, 

Ed. Henderson, H. H. Shelton, 

Marion Jones, Allen Smith, 

Henry Jones, Samuel Smith, 

Joseph Jones, James Scott, 

Solomon Johnson, Sol Skagg, 

Hiram Johnson, Hiram Scott, 

Jonathan Knightly, Benj. Scott, 

W. C. Kirk, Calvin Slover, 

Thos. Kirk, Thomas Torpey, 

Press Kirk, Columlnis Thompson, 

Samuel Kirk, W. C. A^orris, 

Francis Kirk, W. T. Wisdom, 

F. AV. Lowen, Jas. Tobbert. 

The Grtind}' County Battalion of six months 
militia, composed of five companies, was mustered 
in in Octol:)er, 1861. The hattalion was officered as 
follows : 

Walter King, Lieutenant, Colonel; James Coop- 
er, Surgeon; W. W. Hubbell, Adjutant; Jew^ett 
Norris, Quartermaster. 

First Company — Captain, James H. Creighton; 
First Lieutenant, Franklin Froman ; Second Lieit- 
tenant, Perry Froman. 

Second Company — Captain, Samuel Haycroft; 
First Lietitenant, Henry Stutt; Second Lieutenant, 
Wm. Dunlap. 

Third Company — Captain, E. L. Winters ; First 
Lieutenant, Wm .Rucker; Second Lieutenant, Sam- 
uel J. AA'arner. 

Fourth Company — Captain, Martin B. Carvin; 
First Lieutenant, P. H. Yakev; Second Lieutenant, 
W. W. Hubbell. 

Fifth Company — Captain, E. A. Morton; First 
Lieutenant, George Longhead; Second Lieutenant, 
James Martin. 




Christian Church, Corner Chestnut and Winter Streets, Trenton, Mo. 



62 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 

It was the principle object of this battahon to 
break up secession encampments within the state 
and to prevent the secession idea from getting a 
foothold here. 

A regiment of state militia known as the Forty- 
fourth was organized in the fall of 1862, under com- 
mand of Colonel W. B. Rogers. It was in service 
but twenty-five days. The Forty-fourth regiment, 
(Home Guards) was organized in August, 1864, 
and contained many Grundy County men, among 
whom were R. A. DeBolt, Major; W. B. Rogers, 
and M. A. Winters, Captains, and James Overman, 
First Lieutenant. Though enlisting late in the war, 
the regiment saw hard service. Man}' Grundy 
County soldiers fought in other regiments. 

The Confederates were unable to make any or- 
ganization in this county, but perhaps something- 
like two hundred men left, singly or in small bands, 
to join the southern army. 

A graphic picture of home life during the war 
is given by Dr. Thomas Kimlin in the old Grundy 
County history. The article follows : 

"In the month of June, 1862, the writer of this 
sketch, then a young man of twenty-four, walked 
from Chillicothe, in Livingston County, to Trenton 
in Grundy. He had come from New York, and on 
arriving at Chillicothe, found his means exhausted, 
consequently was obliged to resort to natural loco- 
motion to reach his destination. The Harr}^ House 
was the only hotel in Chillicothe, and as the tired 
traveller rested there for one night, thinking of his 
walk on the morrow, he was anything but delighted . 
to hear that the bushwhackers had been seen on the 
Trenton and Chillicothe road the dav before, and 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 63 

were raiding- around Spring Hill. 

The next morning- dawned bright and beautiful, 
and as our traveller struck north he thought he 
never saw a more lovely country. The prairie was 
of a gentle, undulated character, covered with fine 
growths of grass and interspersed with belts of tim- 
ber — hickory, oak, ash, elm, cottonwood and black 
walnut. Numerous streams crossed the country 
along the banks of which the wild plum and crab 
apple grew in the greatest luxuriance. The soil was 
of a fine, deep, dark loam. The woods and streams 
abounded in game. The chattering squirrel ran 
across the road or, perched on a stump, scolded like 
a fish woman ; the shy rabbit hopped along under the 
shade of the bushes; coveys of quails from time to 
time rose whirling in the air ; and on passing the 
creeks and waterpools many a wild duck flew away 
on clamorous wing. Only the road was deserted. 
In the entire distance he met not a single individual. 
No farmers were at work in the fields ; no loaded 
teams wended their way to town ; no market wagons 
filled with noisy lads, rosy lasses, or aged parents, 
went clattering home with recent acquired stores of 
dry goods and groceries. Even the few houses 
along the road looked deserted — in one or two the 
doors and windows were jealously closed, and in a 
few others the widely open door and broken win- 
dows revealed empty desolation within. 

''About half way between Trenton and Chilli- 
cothe stood two farm houses a short distance from 
the road which were some months afterward the 
scene of a terrible tragedy that today invests the 
neighborhood with a strange horror. Again a few 
blackened beams, a pile of crumbling brick or stone, 



'^4 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 

showed where a house had been. What had hap- 
pened here? What had become of the inhabitants? 
Happily for the traveller's peace of mind he did not 
kno.v llicri. nor imtil long afterward, for those who 
knt^v of these occurrences were very reluctant to 
s].>eak about them. 

''()vir traveller, how^ever, arrived safely in Tren- 
ton, V hich iie ffjund to be a town of perhaps seventy 
or eighty h.ouses, clustered irregularly round a 
square l^rick building, the county court house. The 
appearance of the place was not such as to impress a 
stranger ver}' fax'orably. Instead' of being located 
on one of the fine prairies with which Grundy 
County aljormds, the tow-n w^as built on and bet^\■een 
a number of scraggy bluffs adjacent to Grand River. 
These bluffs had been washed out of all shape by 
rains, and cut into gulleys so deep that some of the 
streets were impassable. The streets were over- 
growai with a prodigious growth of 'jimson" and dog 
fennel, which, when in bloom, filled the atmosphere 
with an odor that was more striking than pleasant. 
The population was rather heterogeneous. The 
war had swept off the best part of the people — the 
VL-nng men to join the Union army; the feeble and 
weak-kneed in body and loyalty to the more bracing 
climate of Montana and Oregon. 

"In politics Trenton had been Democratic, so 
much so that in the election of i860 but two or three 
votes W'Cre cast for Lincoln. Now it was all the 
other wav. Trenton got so loyal it leaned back- 
Wfird; or, rather, when the really patriotic men had 
joined the army, many rough characters came to 
the surface, who, otherwise, w^ould have remained 
hidden in their native obscurity, and these ruffians, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 65 

assuming" the garb of loyal men and Republicans, 
v.;ere a disgrace, alike to the cause of the one and 
the name of the other. 

"In no state in the Union did men, l)oth Demo- 
crats and Republicans, turn out in defense of their 
country more enthusiastically than in North Mis- 
souri; and no county in North Missouri exceeded 
'loyal old Grundy.' 

"Rampant ruffianism made it almost as dan- 
gerous for a man to say he was a Democrat as to 
say he was a rebel. Even the families of Demo- 
crats, whose sons perhaps were in the Union army, 
were not altogether safe. * 

"The Reverend Mr. Starr, an infirm Methodist 
preacher, whose only son was in the Union army,, 
and who was on Grierson's staff on his famous raid 
to New Orleans, was subjected to numerous petty 
persecutions. One was the nailing of the Union 
flag over his front door, not as a sign of loyalty, but 
as a mark of disgrace — pretty much the same char- 
acter as the red flag nailed to houses suspected of 
containing small pox. 

"Street fights were common, and it was a poor 
day that did not afford two or three fights, perhaps 
coming off at one and the same time. 

"The business of the town had suffered a severe 
shock from the war. Some of the best firms had 
succumbed ; probably the largest amount of trading 
was done at 'Moberly's Corner,' and carried on 
chiefly by Wm. C. Benson, who was at that time 
treasurer of the county. 

"The people were frank and hospitable in their 
manners, and their tastes were simple. They had 
few amusements. Amono- the ladies, q-ood looks 



66 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

were then as well as now, the rule, especially among 
the girls up to the age of twenty, and plain looks the 
exception. The writer don't remember of seeing a 
real ugly woman except once, and she hailed from 
an adjoining county. To join in their social recrea- 
tions, one might easily fancy himself in some primi- 
tive Arcadia, where the shepherds piped to their 
lasses on wheaten straws. Indeed one favorite 
game was called 'Weevily Wheat,' from an artless 
song of that name. 

"This song was sung by the entire company 
while marching two and two around a circle. The 
refrain was: 

I won't haA'e none of 3'our weevily ^vheat, 

I won't have none of your barle}^. 
For I must have the best of wheat 
To bake a cake for Charley — 
"The song went on to tell who Charley was and 
what were his qualifications, thus : 

For Charley is a nice young man, 

And Charley he's a dandy ; 
And Charlev loves to kiss the girls — 
As sweet as sugar cand3\ 
"But for the matter of that, each young lad}'- 
mentally fitted the name of her own particular ad- 
mirer. 

"There was one piano in town, perhaps two, but 
for good, downright ear-piercing music the fife 
bore off the palm. We may be mistaken, but we 
believe the fifer's stock of music consisted of two 
pieces, the one he was always playing, at least when 
we could hear him — and that was daily — the other 
tune was never heard. 

"Pitching dollars into a hole in the ground was 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 67 

a favorite outdoor game. It was generally carried 
on in front of a grogger)-, and the players were sure 
to be surrounded by a circle of highly interested 
spectators, their interest being partly accounted for 
by the fact that, with western generosity, many of 
their games were played for 'drinks for the crowd.' 

"Correspondence wath the outer w^orld w^as car- 
ried on by means of a hack which made a tri-weekly 
trip to Chillicothe. The arrival of the hack was al- 
ways the signal for a crowd to gather around the 
post office and listen while the address on each let- 
ter and paper was called out by the worthy postmis- 
tress, Mrs. Collier. When the papers w^ere dis 
tributed, they adjourned to some convenient fence 
corner to hear the news about the war. This \V'as 
generally read aloud by Mr. A. K. Sykes, wdio has 
done more gratuitous work of this kind for the peo- 
ple than any other man in the county. 

"At times the monotony of this life would be 
broken by a report of a raid of bushwhackers some- 
where in the neighborhood, and the men and bo)S 
would be hastily gathered together, enrolled as mili- 
tia and either stationed as guards on the roads lead- 
ing to town, or sent off to protect some more threat- 
ened or scared locality. 

"The writer has a distinct recollection of a cer- 
tain hurried march to the neighboring town of Edin- 
burg, taking possession of the college there, and be- 
ing quartered in the town for a day of two, very 
much to the disgust of the inhabitants, who ip- 
peared more relieved by our departure than over- 
joyed by our presence. 

"Truth compels me to say that the militia made 
no nice distinction between uicuiii ef tcuiii, in the 



6S HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 

matter of corn and chickens. These mihtia raids 
were sometimes more extended, even on occasion 
going- as far as the Missouri river. On one memor- 
able tour the Grundy County mihtia were gone two 
weeks, and scoured the counties of Livingston, Ray, 
Carroll and Caldwell. The militia from Alercer, 
Harrison, Daviess, Sullivan and Putnam, took part 
in this demonstration, as well as a few companies of 
Illinois cavalry. The writer, who never had been 
on horseback, was mounted on a little scrub of a 
pony that had a vicious tendency of falling on its 
nose every few yards. Two of the heaviest doctors 
in the county accompanied the men, well laden with 
lint and bandages. Several preachers also went 
along, presumably, to attend to the morals of their 
flock. The company was under the command of 
Captain R. A. DeBolt. The first day's march 
brought them to Chillicothe, where muskets and am- 
munition were distributed to the men, who were 
then slightly drilled and the new recruits initiated 
into the duties of militiamen, i. e., stealing fodder 
and trading horses. As Chillicothe was a friendly 
town and near home, the first was generally done 
by moonlight or starlight under the guidance of a 
more experienced comrade. The latter was per- 
formed on authority of an order issued by our 
worthy colonel, J. H. Shanklin, directing his men if 
the inhal)itants did not supply them with horses 
when they needed them, to take them by force. 

"The recruits were all apt .scholars. Indeed, 
how could they be otherwise with suclrteachers? To 
be sure, the preference was given to rebel corn crilis 
and rebel horses, and a Union corn crib, if emptv, 
was not touched, and a Union horse, if l:)lind or 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 69 

lame, was considerately left to its owner. The ex- 
pedition was a grand success. All the more so, per- 
haps, because it fell in with no bushwhackers. Rebel 
chickens were plenty, and so were rebel horses, and 
the men of Grundy helped themselves as cooly to the 
one as to the other, so that the fame of their exploits 
went through all that region round about. Indeed, 
it was maliciously said that when the women would 
hear the Grundy militia were coming they hastily 
gathered up their children and valuables and hid 
themselves in the brush. It is hard to say what 
gave them this notoriety; whether it was from 
their hungry looks (for by accident they had been 
assigned to the rear of the column where there was 
but a scanty picking ) or whether it was because they 
had so many preachers in their company, and a nat- 
ural inference in regard to chickens was the conse- 
cjuence — one divine had the 1)ow of his saddle 
adorned with a defunct rooster, that caused consid- 
erable merriment — or whether it was, as the writer 
suspects to l)e the fact, because the militia from the 
neighboring counties stole anything and were 
caught at it in^'ariably said they were from Grundy 
County. At any rate the Grundy County militia got 
the blame for all the depredations committed, and 
for years afterward were hated by the people of the 
river counties even as the Jews hated the Philis- 
tines. The truth is, that except taking a little corn 
fodder, occasionally borrowing a horse when their 
own gave out, leaving their name and address with 
the owner, the Grundy county militia paid their ex- 
penses out of their own pockets. 

"One beautiful morning down on the Missouri 
1)ottom the bugle sounded tlie companies to fall into 



70 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

line. The tired militia, who had been reclining on 
the grass, or eating their scanty breakfast, mounted 
their horses in haste and took their stations in their 
respective companies. The militia of Grundy, al- 
ways the first to obey an order, were soon in their 
places, wondering what was going to take place 
next. On their right and left were stationed vari- 
ous other militia companies composing the expedi- 
tion, and on the extreme left the Illinois cavalry. 
Some important order w^as about to be given. Some 
said the bushwhackers had escaped and that they 
would be followed over the river. This was good 
news, for there was not one that would not willingly 
have gone over the Arkansas line if necessary. The 
officer commanding and his staff w^ere posted some 
little distance off. Suddenly an adjutant left the 
group and rode to the place where DeBolt's com- 
pany was stationed. Halting, he took out a paper 
and read the following : 

"\Miereas, continual complaints have reached 
the ears of the commanding officer that the militia 
company under the command of Capt. R. A. DeBolt, 
have been guilty of numerous crimes and misdeeds, 
whereby the morals of the command in general have 
been very much deteriorated, therefore they are dis- 
charged from fiu'ther participation in this cam- 
paign. They are ordered to report in Chillicothe 
and be discharged.' 

"And so the poor militia — victims of unjust sus- 
picion and lying accusation — turned their horses 
heads and sadly w^ended their way in silence over 
the hills to the right of the encampment and struck 
out for home. The same evening on halting for the 
night an examination was made of the entire com- 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 71 

pany, at their own request, to ascertain it any had 
been guilty of steahng. The result was: One old 
horse blanket, one curry comb, three onions and 
twenty ears of corn. 

"The greater part of the company had too much 
respect for themselves to forget, for a single mo- 
ment, that they w^ere gentlemen and men of honor, 
and would have scorned to commit the petty crimes 
with w^iich they were charged. 

"Tw^o days afterwards the company reached 
Trenton, where, in the the welcome they received, 
they soon forgot their fatigue, hunger, and mortifi- 
cation. In the foregoing sketch, w4ien alluding to the 
Grundy County militia, DeBolt's company, com- 
posed of men living in and about Trenton, was more 
particularly meant, as that was the company that 
was especially honored on the Missouri bottom. 

"Before the war closed, the disorderly spirits in 
Trenton, got so outrageous in their conduct that 
Colonel Shanklin was ordered to take a company of 
militia from St. Joseph, proceed to Trenton to ar- 
rest the violators of the peace, and to take them to 
St. Joseph, for trial. This was done and Trenton 
had no more trouble. The war came to a close, and 
w'ith the return of the heroes who went, happiness 
and peace settled down, though here and there a 
mournful face looked out on the silent night, and 
the gazer thought of her loved ones lying dead be- 
neath the stars that twinkled so tremulously in the 
southern sky. 

"The time passed on, the clouds of war faded 
away one by one, and instead of the roar of the dis- 
tant cannon the roll of the emigrant's wagon was 
heard on all the roads of Grundy and adjacent coun- 



72 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ties. Many passed on through, crossing the Mis- 
souri river and seeking a home in the distant prairies 
of Kansas and Nebraska, but many remained and 
made their homes on the rich prairie that lay be- 
tween Grand River and Medicine creek, and none 
ever regretted having done so. Law and order, 
peace and plenty, ^'irtue and happiness have existed 
in old Grundy for many years, and that they may 
ever continue to do so is the sincere wish of one who 
came here a stranger and found friends; who came 
penniless and found a competence; who came a 
bachelor and found a companion to cheer him to his 
life's end." 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



73 



CHAPTER IV. 



REMINISCENCES, J. E. CARTER— Peculiarities of Country and 
People — Manner of Living — Religious Services — With "the 
Boys" — Amusements — Colored People — The Liquor Question 
— The Hamlet of Trenton — Game and Fish — Horse Racing — 
The Days of the Ferry — Sports and Incidents. 



1 


5^ IM 




m ' ^K 



HE history of Grundy County would be 
incomplete did it fail to contain a few 
personal reminiscences, and the writer, 
who, if not one of the earliest pioneers, 
dates back to a period which may en- 
title him to the distinction of being 
one of the "old timers.' It was in 1853 when 
pressed me with the idea that the Creator did not 
use the same pattern, in his creative work. The 
broad and fertile prairies of Missouri was a great 
change from the heavy timbered districts of the 
Hoosier state, where the tall poplar, walnut, oak and 
hickory trees, made the seemingly dwarf like for- 
ests of Missouri seem insignificant in comparison, 
first I breathed the pure air of Grundy 
County, when a boy of sixteen years of age, 
with others, in a prairie schooner, I was on an 
exploring expedition. I was a Hoosier boy from 
near the old battle ground of Tippecanoe in Indiana, 
and the change of scenery, country and manners 
and customs peculiar to the people of Missouri, im- 



74 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Another peculiarity of this country, or rather its 
people, they choose to settle along the streams and 
brakes of the county, ignoring the prairies, as only 
fit for grazing lands for stock. The wild deer, the 
turkey and the prairie chicken, made up a large pro- 
portion of what enjoyed the unused domain and 
wild meats and wild honey, to early settlers, was a 
most providential supply of the necessaries and 
luxuries of life. I doubt very much if ever a hap- 
pier condition has prevailed among the people of 
Grundy Coimty than those primitive times afforded. 
The log cabin and ordinary shack, which the whip 
saw and the woodman's ax procured from the tim- 
ber, were places of unalloyed comfort. The coon 
skin tacked on the outside, was a most common at- 
traction and denoted that the "varmints" of the 
country contributed largely, in a commercial way, 
in supplying "store goods," such as Orleans sugar 
and molasses, coffee, rice and other luxuries of the 
cabin home, also ammunition, consisting of powder, 
caps and lead. It was possible to dispense with cof- 
fee and sugar, but the ammunition was an indispen- 
sible article. Among the interior decorations of the 
cabin was the long barrel rifle, in a rack, sometimes 
made of the horns of a buck deer. That rifle in the 
hands of a pioneer, was a most unerring weapon, 
and the bullet, made in the old time bullet moulds, 
into which the lead was poured, rarely went astray 
of bringing down the deer or turkey. 

My first experience in hearing the gospel pro- 
claimed was at a camp meeting on Tombstone creek, 
near where Melbourne now is. For several weeks 
the woods was full of religiotis excitement. At 
night the most interest seemed to prevail, when the 



HISTORY OP GRUXDY COUXTY. 75 

spirit seemed to be the most moving. The singing 
of the old style hymns was in no sense classical, but 
seemed to come from sincere and earnest hearts. 
The interest seemed to grow more intense as the 
singing progressed and often induced dozens to 
give vent to their feeling with shouting, amens and 
praise the Lord. Sometimes these camp meetings, 
which in the early autumn, were numerous in Mis- 
souri, were characterized with an element not so en- 
thusiastically religious, but were of the rowdy na- 
ture. Frequently, it was necessary to have a picket 
guard to protect the camp from toughs, who deemed 
it great sport to interfere with the services in a way 
that ended in a battle with clubs and other weapons 
and I think old pioneers will testify to the fact, that 
the toughs generally got the worst of it. 

It was not until 1856 that the writer became a 
citizen of Grundy County, and of the little hamlet 
of Trenton, where I am yet permitted to live. It is 
hardly necessary to inform the reader that at this 
date I am no spring chicken, and that I am inclined 
to look backward, more than for future events. I 
am reminded of the lines : 

"Backward, turn backward, oh time, in thy flight. 
Make me a child again, just for tonight." 
The recollection of the times, when Avith other 
young men of the little town of Trenton, I was one 
of the boys. Being one of the bo}\s in Trenton in 
1856-7-8 and i860, meant more than would be 
proper to record in a history of Grundy County. In 
those days, it always paid a peace officer to be on 
good terms with the "boys." To be otherwise meant 
trouble. Don't understand me to mean that the 
Trenton boys of that age were ^-icious or mean in 



76 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

the sense to l^e law ])reakers of a serious character, 
but were certainly very much alive when it seemed 
necessary to start something doing for the fun 
there was in it. To get under the influence of booze 
was one of the easiest and cheapest efforts one could 
make. The grocery stores generally kept a "barl" 
of the stuff to sell by the gallon and treat their cus- 
tomers. A gallon of genuine "sod corn whiskey'* 
could be had for 25 cents and old "Monongehale" 
for 50 cent per gallon. The sports peculiar to the 
loafers of the streets and a few farmers who came 
to town Saturdays was pitching horseshoes and 
pitching dollars for the drinks. On the campus of 
the old court house the game of marbles was a most 
popular and interesting game of skill. I could name 
many of the artists whose skill at marbles, horse- 
shoe pitching and dollar pitching was enviable. 
Poker was not an unknown scientific game in those 
days and I could name a few old timers, who im- 
agined themselves invincible, until a real scientific 
poker player from the city came along and taught 
them that gambling was a science by cleaning them 
up to the tune of several dollars. Poker chips was 
an unknown convenience those days. 

Colored people of those times, were regarded as 
an inferior animal and of a commercial value, rated 
according to age, gender and physical development. 
A good male negro, sometimes was valued at from 
$1,000 to $1,500. The selling of a negro was of 
rare occurrence in Grundy County, and it was gen- 
erally due to misbehavior of the colored man or 
woman, that the master would dispose of them for 
a consideration. Colored people were not privi- 
leged to roam the streets later than 9 o'clock. A 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 77 

"patroller,"' was an authority, whose duty it was to 
see that colored people were in their quarters at 
that hour. 

The temperance question in the latter part of the 
fifties, had its friends, and I well remember, when 
the "Sons of Temperance" was an organization in- 
stituted by good temperance people, with a view of 
bringing about a great reformation. The order 
prospered and became a power in one sense — that 
is, joiners came in by the dozens and old time in- 
ebiates were welcomed in the order with a cordial- 
ity that should have had l^etter effect, but it seems, 
onlv curiosity prompted many to join, with perhaps 
a desire to break up the order by burdening it with 
members who were not sincere in taking the obliga- 
tion. Anyway, the time arrived when it was impos- 
sible to expel a recreant member for the reason that 
those were in the majority, who had not reformed. 
I well remember on one occasion when the chair 
officer (the w^orthy Patriarch) was so intoxicated 
he could hardly sit up straight in his chair. I be- 
lieve it was in 1857 that a temperance wave struck 
the town, that seemed likely to wreck the liquor 
business. It was when William Ross, a great tem- 
perance lecturer and reformer, came at the solicita- 
tion of the temperance peo])le, and lectured on tem- 
perance in the old Baptist church on South Water 
street. He was a most fearless advocate of the 
cause, and gave it to the rummies in italics. One 
night he made a proposition, in one of his lectures, 
to buy out all the liquor sellers in the town and said : 
"Where are you, Air. Liquor Sellers, are you here 
tonight? Wliat will you take for your stuff?" One 
liquor seller arose and said: "I'll take cost and car- 



78 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

riage for mine." "Wliat!" said Ross. "Bring hell 
and damnation into a community and offer it for 
cost and carriage?" From that on Ross had a tar- 
get for his abuse, and wit, sarcasm, etc., was the 
ammunition he used. The next night, while Ross 
stood on the floor, in front of the large pulpit, pour- 
ing out hot vindictive abuse for the lic[Uor dealers, 
a half brick came through the rear window with 
force enough to bury it in the plastering in the 
front end of the church. Had Ross been in the pul- 
pit his lecture w'ould have ended at that moment if 
the brick bat had struck him. Pandemonium 
reigned for a moment and to find the man who 
threw the brick was the next move. Ross's voice was 
heard above the roar, sa3nng, "Let the devil outside 
alone, nobody is hurt." I mention this incident, il- 
lustrative of the fact that temperance waves are 
not of modern times only, but date back for many 
generations, and that wave was the first to strike 
Trenton since I became a citizen. 

In the year of 1856, the first year of my adoption 
of Trenton as my home, the mercantile business, so 
far as I remember, was as follows: AA\ H. Robert- 
son, on lot I, block i, on the corner, directly west 
of the court house; the next door southwest down 
Water street, a Mr. Maupin, then Austin and Coop- 
er, then Dr. J. H. Short, drug store, then on the cor- 
ner, Jas. H. Cooper's hotel, across the street. Nel- 
son, Brooks & Taylor, then on up the street Arbo- 
gast & Renfro's grocery, store in front and saloon 
in the rear, next came Ison Morris and Froman, 
and on the corner Samuel Ells' saloon. Not one of 
those l)usiness houses is standing today to testify to 
the commercial enterprise of that day. On the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 79 

block opposite the court house, south, was WiUiam 
Blew's blacksmith shop and plow factory — an old 
log edifice, now only a memory. Across the street, 
where now stands the old Winters hall, was the 
Smith shop of Socrates England, and immediately 
north was a restaurant kept by an old colored man, 
Jeff VVaterford, whose wife. Aunt Jane, was a cook 
unsurpassed in any country or age. A carding ma- 
chine, located a few blocks south on Water street, 
run by oxen on a large inclined wheel, owned and 
operated by George W. Moberly, was an enterprise 
patronized by customers coming forty or fifty miles, 
with loads of wool who sometimes were compelled 
to wait for days to get their turn. Colliers' brick 
yard, near the old Jennings & Flemming mill, was 
another enterprise of great import to Trenton. I 
believe that was about all of the business of a mer- 
cantile and factory nature of the town. 

The educational institution of Trenton was un- 
der the management of Joseph Ficklin, in an old log 
structure, where now is located the jail. Prof. 
Ficklin afterward became prominent in the state, as 
a professor of mathematics, and indeed was recog- 
nized as an author and teacher of that educational 
branch of national repute. Prof. Terrence Brad- 
ley came about 1857 and built up a splendid school 
and built a two-story edifice, where now stands the 
Farmers" Store. Many prominent men of the 
county and state, first drank at this fountain of 
learning, and the name of Bradley became famous 
as a teacher, but his enviable career as an educator 
ended with his death, which occurred in 1859 or '60. 

My earliest recollection of what Trenton af- 
forded, as a place of religious worship was the old 



80 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Baptist church, ah'eacly referred to, where Mr, 
Ross lectured on temperance. It was there I first 
attended Sunday school, of which W. H. Robertson 
w-as superintendent. His words of admonition, on 
our first interview, impressed me in a way I never 
will forget them. Said he: "Come and go with us 
and we will do thee good." He was one of the pio- 
neer merchants of the village, well remembered by 
old timers as a most exemplar)^ , upright Christian 
gentleman. He died near Laredo, Mo., in 1905, 
loved and mourned by all who knew him. In 1856 
the foundation of the Christian church building was 
laid and is yet standing and is in a dilapidated con- 
dition, on the next block southeast of the court 
house. William Collier, Sr., was the prime mover 
in this worth}^ enterprise, who lived many years to 
enjoy the fruits of his labor, in attending religious 
services in the same. 

It was dedicated by Rev. T. P. Haley, now a 
superannuated minister, living at Kansas City. 
Those tw'O churches had plenty of material out of 
which to make a good membership. Religious con- 
troversies in those days were of more frequent oc- 
currence than now. Debates on doctrinal differ- 
ences kept alive a degree of sectarianism hardly 
consistent with the spirit of Christianity. I remem- 
ber a debate in the old 1)rick church, between Dr. 
Ben. Franklin of Cincinnati, representing the Chris- 
tian church, and Dr. Bush of Missouri, represent- 
ing the M. E. church. South. It held several days 
and when ended it is questionable if any one was 
changed in his or her way of thinking and only 
served to fortify those holding to their opinions 
more intenselv, in their sectional faith. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. '81 

A game and fish law, such as we have today, 
would have been an outrage on the liberties of the 
people, that would have been "killing" to the politi- 
cal popularity of the author of the bill, and to all who 
voted for it. The hunter of that period did not look 
in vain for the deer, turkey and prairie chicken and 
to shoot a (|uail was deemed a waste of ammunition 
when they could be caught in the net by the dozens. 
The boys of this age will never know what success 
means in hunting compared with the hunter with 
a squirrel rifle in 1856. That was a time too when 
the fisherman on the banks of Grand river, was re- 
paid for his bait and patience. Fish in Grand river 
were of a size and variety that would make a fish 
story discounting anything the modern fisherman 
could fabricate. A catfish weighing 150 pounds 
was caught in the wheel of the old water mill. Buf- 
falo fish were often shot with the rifle when "root- 
ing" along the banks of the river and when "float- 
ing" near the surface, as they often did in the sum- 
mer months. The "Jack Salmon" was also a vari- 
ety quite plentiful in those days and many caught 
weighed ten or twelve pounds. I remember dis- 
tinctly of a peculiar "catch," which in a fish story 
might be considered rather "fishy," but neverthe- 
less is true. An old colored man, Randall Darnaby, 
baited his hook on a "trot" line, for catfish. Dur- 
ing the night a catfish about a foot long was caught 
on the hook. The fish, before Darnaby came to take 
it off, tempted a very large fish, weighing 70 
pounds, to take a nibble. It swallowed the fish head 
foremost, and that ended the career of the larp-e fish 
which was taken ashore next morning by the fisher- 
man, \\-ith great difficulty, and it was no easy mat- 



82 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ter to pull the smaller fish from the larger one. Fish 
stories may not be just the proper thing to be writ- 
ten in a county history, but in these reminiscences 
of the events of the county, a "true" fish story is 
certainly admissible. 

"Hoss racing" was among the sports of the fif- 
ties and the race horses and jockies would cause a 
smile on the countenances of the sports of this age. 
Charles Cullers, on his old mule, on the track of a 
Grundy County fair, would discount the races of 
that age. The race hoss was not cared for, as is 
now a blooded courser. To plow all week, with har- 
ness marks cjuite visible, the racer and its owner 
would meet on the l:)Ottoms south of Grand riA-er, 
with several others of the sporting fever. The race 
track was a quarter of a mile in length and straight 
as an arrow and when the signal was given no 
"jockeying" was indulged in for an advantage in 
the start. It was "go" and was as exciting and per- 
haps more so, than the races of modern times. Only 
a few of the sporting men of that day yet live in 
(irundy and prominent among them, who was then 
and is yet a splendid judge of "hoss" flesh and mus- 
cle, is Capt. Alex Tate, who will testify to the fact, 
than anything l)ut a square deal in a "hoss" race 
was deemed an outrage and the man that suggested 
any thing unfair was put off the track. 

Another popular sport of the fifties was that of 
the "shootin' " match for turkeys and beef. A 
group of sportsmen, with the long eight-squared 
barrel, assembled for the "shoot" would make a 
splendid picture. "Champion shots" or marksmen 
were sure to be on hand, and it sometimes happened 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 83 

one of these would win the whole beef and drive it 
home. I have in mind one of these whose name was 
James Pratt, father of Al. Pratt of Trenton. As a 
hunter and "sharp shooter" with his old time rifle 
he was deemed hard to excel. Athletic sports were 
also a most popular amusement, and then as now, 
this county was well stocked with "home talent" in 
that line. The "sprinter" then, a name unknown to 
the foot racer and the "jumper" was a character of 
repute. Occasionally a professional from other 
states would arrive in our village, (which Trenton 
was then) and challenge the town for a contest and 
leave it with more than ordinary respect for our 
home athletes. 

I remember on one occasion a professional ath- 
lete from "furrin" parts, swelling with important 
mien, boasting of his phenomenal feats at jumping, 
challenged the town to "trot" out its best athlete, 
and see him make him feel small. The town boasted 
of no champion, but it was know that William Col- 
lier, Jr., a well known citizen who died in Trenton a 
few 3^ears ago, possessed superior powers as a 
jumper. Mr. Collier expressed a willingness to test 
the agility of the professional, conditionally, that no 
wager be made on the result. That condition, so far 
as he knew was agreed to, but on the side it was be- 
lieved a stake was made unkno\Mi to Mr. Collier, 
w^hose convictions of right and wrong, regarding 
betting were very strongly opposed to that species 
of immorality. When the contest came off the pro- 
fessional came out behind almost a foot and left 
town, convinced of his inferiority to an unprofes- 
sional of Trenton. 

Grand river, at the foot of Water street, which 



M HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

was then a back water, caused by a dam, which fur- 
nished the power, to run the mill, a few hundred 
yards below, was crossed by a ferry boat of very 
ordinary design and build. To get on or off the 
ferry boat was sometimes a most hazardous under- 
taking. The fee for crossing was 5 cents for a foot- 
man and 10 cents for a horseman and 15 cents for 
a wagon or carriage. A large rope from bank to 
bank, with ropes and pulleys attached to the boat, 
served to keep the boat in position for passage, one 
end of the boat inclined up stream, the current serv- 
ing to propel the boat across. To bail the boat with 
a scoop shovel about every other trip, gave the ferry 
man plenty of exercise, while waiting for a fare. 
An amusing suggestion by Henry Parberry, a well 
known celebrity of "Poosey," (Jefferson Twp.) on 
one occasion, is entitled to space in these reminis- 
cences. The ferry man was bailing out the old boat, 
throwing the water over the "gunnell," up stream. 
Henry said, "You ain't doing that right." "Why 
ain't I," said the ferry man. "Because, when you 
throw the water up stream it will all run back in yer 
darned old boat." The possibility of ever building 
a bridge across Grand river was a very remote 
proposition. A rivalry in the ferry business sprang 
up, when a ferry was established where is now the 
bridge at the water works pumping station. The 
road to Edinburg then, was to cross at the lower 
ferry and thence over the bridge at Big Rock. To 
change the course of travel and make more business 
for the upper ferry the bridge at Big Rock was de- 
stroyed by fire, which was followed by the arrest of 
one Joshua Epperson, on suspicion of burning the 
bridge. While many believed Epperson guilty, the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 85 

evidence failed to sustain the charge and Joshua 
went free. 

These reminiscences are only a few of the many 
I might relate of the fifties, under my observation, 
but to impose further on the pages of this history 
of Grundy County might impair its interest so will 
close by saying I have never had cause to regret 
that in 1856 I found a home I never felt inclined to 
leave and a companion who has contributed to my 
happiness, as only a true wife can and not the least 
of all my pleasures is the consciousness of the fact 
that in Grundy County I have been associated, re- 
ligiously, socially and politically with the best peo- 
ple on earth, and with them I hope to sojourn so 
long as life shall last, and trust when the end does 
come I can leave the world, at peace with all man- 
kind, and that Trenton and Grundy Countv may be 
no worse for myself having been a citizen in it from 
boyhood to a ripe old age. Resp., 

John Eddy Carte:r. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 87 



CHAPTER V. 



COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE WAR— Price of Land in 
the Sixties— Stray Notices— Deer Still Plentiful— Jail Built — 
Building Improvements — County Business — The County Fair 
in 1870 — The Market in 1871 — Country, Towns and Schools in 
the Seventies — Post Office Service — The Coming of the Rail- 
road — Wealth of the County in the Eighties — In the Nineties, 
— Rural Free Delivery — Court House Built — Local Option. 



^ ^ 



>^ ^: 



THE development of the county was of 
course greatly retarded by the war. 
Conditions were still quite primitive. 
Good prairie land sold for three dollars 
an acre. Stock still ran at large, and 
fences were few. Many stray notices 
for all kinds of stock are found on record for these 
times. The following notice, undated, which was 
probably published in 1863 is typical: 

WM. KNIGHT'S STRAY BOOK. 
State of Missouri 
County of Grundy, ss : 

Personley appeared before me, the undersigned 
Justice of the Peace in and for Trenton township, 
James Leeper being duly sworn by me Deposed that 
he had Takenup as a Stray on is Plantation, one 
Red Sorrel Mare, Supposed to be five years old, 
about fourteen hands High, with Small Star in hir 
fore head and saddle marks upon her Back and a lit- 
tle white on the inside of her left hind foot, Peter H. 



88 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Yakey and George Slotenback, Appraisers, being 
duly sworn appraised it at fifty dollars. 

WM. KNIGHT, J. P. 

The Republican, in its issue of December 2, 
1869, contains the following item : 

"Dick Burke * '•' on the i(Sth of November 
knocked over a buck which weighed 190 pounds net 
and on the 26th two Inicks and a doe went down be- 
fore his unerring aim. '•' ''" Dick will accept our 
thanks for a nice venison roast." 

In the meantime, the town and county was pro- 
gressing steadily, surely, if not rapidly. The county 
jail was completed in 1867. It had four cells below 
and three rooms up stairs for the use of the sheriff, 
and it was a thing of beauty, a joy for every liberty 
loving transgressor who was locked therein, as they 
all with one accord would quietly depart. Captain 
Winters collected $29,000 taxes for the year 1869. 
In the same year agitation for a national bank be- 
gan. "Time and again since we have been a citizen 
of Trenton," says the Republican, "have we heard 
men wish that there was a bank in this place." 

According to a resume given by that paper, 
building improvements to the value of $64,707 were 
made in Trenton from January i to December i, 
1869. About eighty buildings were erected or re- 
paired. The highest price paid for a single building 
was $2,300 for the Methodist church. 

The county court from time immemorial has 
practiced the most rigid economy, at times to the 
extent of parsimony. In 1870 they for a time failed 
to publish the financial statement of the county, as 
the law required, which dereliction of duty was nat- 
urally extremely repugnant to the Republican. The 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 89 

statement was finally published, however, showing 
the total disbursements of the county for the year 
1869 to have been $34,646.21, an excess over the 
receipts of $10,303.22; which statement would seem 
to warrant the cutting down of expense. 

The assessor's book for 1870 gives the names of 
2,420 tax payers in Grundy County. 220 of whom 
were non-residents. An incident of that year which 
might be mentioned was the Iniilding of a bridge 
across Grand river. ]n that year the county and 
probate courts were separated, the probate judge 
having formerly been ex-officio member of the 
countA' court. The (irund}' County fair, then in full 
blast, awarded the following premiums in 1870: 

Best domestic jeans, $3. 

Best homespun woolen yarn, $2. 

Best hose, mittens, etc. 

Best patched clothing. 

Best yoke oxen, $10. 

Best draft oxen, tested on ground, $5. 

Few awards were as high as ten dollars. 

In 1 87 1 came the railroad, an epoch making 
event in the history of the county, which is dis- 
cussed elsewhere. No sooner was the Rock Island 
secured than agitation was begun for another road, 
the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific, afterwards the 
Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City, having made a sur- 
vey through this county as early as 1871. This sur- 
vey went through the county about two miles south 
of the Mercer County line, but Lindley and Edin- 
burg felt confident of being able to secure it. 

The Trenton market in 1871 was as follows: 

Sugar, lb., 13 i-2c. 

Coffee, Rio, 20c. 



1^1 






Dr(. FOSTER'S DAIRY H6RD. 

TRfNTON.MO. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 91 

Coffee, Java, 30c. 

Salt, bbi., $3.25. 

Candles, lb., 25c. 

Soda, IOC. 

Tea, lb., $1.25 to $2.00. 

Tubs, wooden, $1.40. 

Pails, wooden, 35c. 

Washboards, 40c. 

Eggs, doz., 8 I -3c. 

Chickens, dozen, $1.25. 

Good Suits, $7.50. 

Coal oil, 30c a gal. up. 

As late as 1875 one-third of Grundy County was 
covered with timl^er. In this year she had seventy- 
eight school districts, and seventy-seven school 
houses; sixty-nine frame, three brick and five log. 
There was a select school at Lindley and a college at 
Edinburg. There were five towns in the county, 
Trenton, Edinburg, Lindley, Nevada and Spick- 
ardsville. Lindley was a thriving village with a 
population of about three hundred. Nevada was a 
small town in the southeast corner of the county, 
which had a flour mill and considerable local trade. 
Spickards, a bran new town, claimed three hundred 
people, had one church, one railroad, (and hoped to 
get another), and a number of business houses. 

The Republican, July 17, 1879, says: "The daily 
mail between Trenton and Edinburg has been dis- 
continued for the present, no contract having been 
let for its conveyance. A tri-weekly has been estab- 
lished between Trenton and Bethany by way of 
Edinburg, Bancroft and Blue Ridge, and is carried 
in a hack; and a semi-weekly from Edinburg by 
way of Grubtown, Bollen and Thomas." 



92 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

The Ouincy, Missouri & Pacific railway, coming 
in 1 88 1, aided in the development of the county, and 
gave birth to the city of Gait. 'I'his road was pro- 
moted by Theodore Oilman of Xew \'ork, through 
Trenton to Pattonsburg to connect ^vith another 
road in 1897, prior to which time Trenton was the 
western terminus. This road it was thought for a 
time ^^■ould pass through Lindley, and perhaps 
Edinburg, and efforts were made to induce it to do 
so by the gift of a handsome sum of money. When 
the road passed to the north of these towns their 
death knell was sounded. 

A severe storm passed through the country in 
1883, unroofing and blowing down a number of 
houses and doing much damage to orchards. The 
approximate loss to the city of Trenton was $75,000. 

The assessed wealth of the county in 1883 was 
as follows : 

Wilson township $ 254,448 

Marion township 305,636 

Liberty township 214,591 

Myers township 221,990 

Jackson township 231,680 

Trenton township 978,653 

Lincoln township 293,253 

Franklin township 176,515 

Jefferson township 209,474 

Madison township 234,216 

Harrison township 158,857 

Taylor township 69,687 

Washington township io5'375 

Total $3,464,260 

The Chicaso, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway 



H 




94 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

came in 1887, made Laredo and killed Alpha. Lit- 
tle of general permanent interest occurred in the la t - 
ter part of the eighties, the country surely and 
steadily increasing in population and wealth. The 
census of 1890 showed the population of Grundy 
County to be 17,876, and of the city of Trenton 

5.039- 

A. H. Burkeholder, as good an authority as the 

county had, gave to the Northwest Missouri Immi- 
gration Society a report of Grundy County in 1889, 
which is in part as follows : 

"A considerable portion of the lands in Grundy 
County are accessible to the purchaser. !\Iany of 
the farms are too large, and a reasonable price 
would induce their reduction ; so that good land can, 
at all times be found for sale. We have carefully 
investigated the question and find the price of the 
lands for sale in this county to be : L'nimproved, $5 
to $12.50 per acre, and improved lands and stock 
farms, with good houses, liarns, orchards, fences, 
and with ample water supply, from $12.50 to $35 
per acre. * '^ The average price of improved 
farms in the county will not exceed $18 to $20 per 
acre. 

"Some idea of the surplus products of Grundy 
County may be gained from the following state- 
ment of the number of car loads actually shipped 
from the county for the year 1887: Piorses, 36; cat- 
tle, 162; hogs, 234; sheej), 62; grain, 135; timothy 
seed, 2;i,\ pressed hay, 10; native lumber, 13; ties 
and piling, 75 ; hoops, 34 ; brick, 4 ; coal, 8 ; hides and 
tallow, 11; poultry, 6; wool, 15; apples, 26\ flour, 
5 ; hay rakes, 3 ; making a total of 852 car loads." 

Local option went into effect in 1886. Much 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 95 

complaint was made of the illegal selling of liqiior 
by dives and club houses. A club house conducted 
by Drury Davis in a building owned by H. Brady. 
just outside the city limits of Spickard was raided 
February 14, 1887, by a number of women armed 
with clubs, axes, hatchets, etc., who went in a body, 
sinaslied the windows and poured the liquor into the 
gutter. The incident caused great excitement at 
the time. A special train brought the offenders to 
Trenton February 21, where they were tried and 
fined for destruction of property. Those in sym- 
pathy with the women conducted a parade through 
the city and made great demonstrations. 

In the summer of 1895 ^^^ unsuccessful attempt 
w^as made to secure the St. Joseph Central railway, 
with division and shops at Trenton. 

Rural free delivery of mail was begun in this 
county in 1901, and now there are comparatively 
few farmers in the county who have not their mail 
delivered at their door, routes being established 
from all the principle towns of the county. The as- 
sessed wealth of the county in 1901 was $4,816,380. 
In that year bonds to the amount of $60,000 w^ere 
voted for the purpose of building a court house, of 
which the corner stone was laid in December, 1903. 
The building was dedicated October 25, 1905. It is 
a stately and substantial building, a credit to the 
county. A substantial jail was erected at the same 
time. 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUXTY. 



i>7 



CHAPTER VL 



TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS-Franklin Township-Spickards- 
Harrison Township— Jackson Township— Jefferson Town- 
ship— Hickory— Liberty Township— Gait— Elizaville— Lincoln 
Township— Tindall— Madison Township— Edinburg—:^Iarion 
lownship—Lindley—Diinlap— Granville— Mvers Township— 
Cookseyville— Taylor Township— Brimson— Trenton Town- 
ship— Wa:. hington Township— Wilson Township— Alpha- 
Laredo. 



FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP was one of 
the first seven townships organized in 
1 84 1. It was probably inhabited tem- 
porarily by a few Mormon families be- 
fore 1838. James Weldon, the first 
_^__^^ permanent settler, came in 1838. Gar- 
rison Carmine and Joseph Mendenhall came the 
same year, and Andrew Weldon in 1839. In 
1 84 1 Wm. Schooler, David Ashbrook and Wm. 
Fitzpatrick were chosen justices of the peace for 
Franklin township. The present officials are J. G. 
Nichols, trustee;. C. B.Cook, collector; John B. 
Keith, Jr., clerk and assessor; James T. Boatman, 
constable; L. D. Cornwell and W. H. Newton, mem- 
bers of board; H. Montgomery and W. H. Newton, 
justices of the peace. 

Outside of Trenton township, Franklin is one of 
the most thickly populated and wealthiest townships 
in the county. 



98 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

SPICKARD. 

Spickard is located on the Rock Island, thirteen 
miles north of Trenton, on the land of G. A. Spick- 
ard, for whom the town. was named. It grew cjuick- 
ly, and was incorporated in 1873. James D. VVams- 
ley, C. E. Wilkerson, James M. Cooper, David G. 
Pug'h, and Milo Robertson was its first trustees. 
Being in a good trade district, the town has grown 
steadily and permanently. In 1880 the population 
was 330, in 1908 it is about 800. The business firms 
of Spickard, or Spickardsville, as it was formerly 
called in 1881, were E. A. Cook, general merchan- 
dise; W. H. Brewer, drugs and groceries; George 
M. Brown & Co., drugs; Samuel Benner, groceries; 
H. Montgomery, wagon shop ; Burkeybile & Wyatt, 
blacksmiths; A. Burkeybile, blacksmith; R. M. 
Crocket, shoe shop; I. J. Godfrey, harness shop; 
Coon Bros. & Co., millers; D. W. Stapp, saw mill; 
F. A. Bonner and N. F. Munn, boarding house; 
Mary E. Taylor, telegraph operator; O. G. Bain, 
notary and law^yer ; C. E. \^'ilkerson, physician. 

Spickard suffered a $15,000 fire November 8, 
1906. The heaviest losers were Guy A. Thompson, 
The Farmers' Store, and R. S. Neil. Since that time 
the city has established a very creditable system of 
water works. 



^inrxisxtii 



Harrison township was organized in 1872. It is 
irregular in shape, lying between Washington and 
Lincoln townships on the north and east and Grand 
river on the south and west, containing 13,423 
acres. Charles W\ Scott settled here in 1834 and 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 99 

John McHargue and Alvin Johnson in 1837. While 
the township is small and not thickly populated it 
contains some of the richest farms in the county. Its 
officials are D. C. Marrs, trustee; J. P. Pryor, col- 
lector; E. C. Wilson, clerk and assessor; J. M. Ren- 
fro, constable; J. E. Maxson and Dennis Thompson, 
members township board and justices of the peace. 



^jtrksxiit 



Jackson township's first settlers, William and 

Josiah Evans, came in 1837. Jas. May and Ad- 

kinson came in the spring of 1838. Jackson was 
formerly a part of Trenton township, receiving a 
separate organization in 1872. Its first township 
officers were Wm. Evans, Patrick Conniff and 
James Mack, township board ; Isaac Mulford, col- 
lector; Thomas Hubbard, assessor and George 
Blivens, constable. Its present officers are W. W. 
Mack, trustee; J. D. Cline, collector; R. J. Mulford, 
clerk and assessor ; Stephen Spencer, constable ; C. 
H. Burns and A. C. Dickman, members of board 
and justices of the peace. 

Its area is 18,920 acres. 



^tiftxsitxx 



Jefferson township is in the southwest corner of 
the county. It has an area of 22,'/20 acres. It con- 
tains much excellent farm land and some broken 
timber land. The township w^as organized 1)y the 
Livingston County court in 1839 ^^^^^ reduced to its 
present size in 1872. Its first settlement was made 



100 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

in 1836 by the families of Jesse Harris, Cornelius 
Darnaby and Wm. Davies. 

The township officials are John M. Grimes, trus- 
tee ; W. A. Tate, collector ; Elias Brown, clerk and 
assessor; George Sharp, constable; Theo. Bratton 
and Ira Cyphers, members of township board and 
justices of the peace. 

HICKORY. 

Hickory is a station on the Rock Island and a 
trading point, located in the east central part of the 
township. It has three stores, a restaurant, black- 
smith shop, etc. 



Jtt^rti 



Liberty township was first settled in 1838 and 
organized in 1845. Until 1872 it included Myers 
township. The township is bounded on the north 
by Myers, on the east by Sullivan County, on the 
south by Marion and on the west by Lincoln town- 
ship. It is seven miles east and west and five north 
and south. No Creek passes through it on the west 
and Little Medicine touches it on the east. Most 
of the soil is undulating prairie land. 

In 1837-8 came to this place Minter Brass- 
field, Mary Brassfield, Thomas Brassfield, Hugh 
Davis, Calvin Brummett, G. F. German, John 
Priest, Alayberry Splawn, Anderson Malone and 
Reuben Brassfield. Many others came in 1839 and' 
1840. The first wedding in. the township is said to 
be that of Reuben and Lucinda Brassfield, cousins. 
in January, 1839. The first child born was May- 
berry Brassfield, son of Minter and Jane Brassfield, 
May, 1878. The first school was taught by J. W. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 101 

Bunnell in 1842. He had thirteen pupils, and re- 
ceived $1.50 per pupil per month. This school was 
taug"ht in a residence, the first school house, a log 
cabin without doors, windows or fire place, being- 
built some time later. 

The township officials are L. W. Moberly, trus- 
tee; Byron Jones, collector; Thomas Fleshman, 
clerk and assessor; E. E. Wilford, constable; Emory 
Hamilton and H. C. Flagg, members of township 
board; H. C. Flagg and W A. -Cooper, justices of 
the peace. 

GALT. 

Gait was brought into existence by the building 
of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific railroad in 1881, 
and at the expense of Lindley. The correspondent 
for the Trenton Republican, in December, 1881, 
says : "Gait is a new town laid off by E. L. Winters. 
Since the location of the Wabash railroad * * it 
has already made a fine start. All the talk about it 
being a low, wet, swampy place is all bosh." The 
correspondent further refers to the burning of 
numerous brush piles and the rapid clearing off of 
timber and says that Gait can no longer be called 
"Brushy Station." He reports the business men of 
that time to be Judge M. Humphre3^s, just moved 
from Lindley, general merchandise; J. W. Osborn, 
hotel; R. W. Thompson, hotel; Jewett & Jewett, 
drugs; Thos. Jones, livery; Lewis & Crantz, black- 
smiths ; Andrew Collins, lumber ; David Jackson, 
meat; Palmer & Thompson, saw^ mill; Snell, grocer- 
ies; Rooks & Rush, groceries. Lindley was at this 
time reported as losing trade but still active. A 
number of new houses were going up m trie new 
town. The town suffered a severe fire in 1883, and 



102 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

another in 1891. The loss in the latter approached 
$15,000. Among the heaviest losers were the 
Jewett estate and Morris Bros. A shaft was sunk 
for a coal mine in 1894, and the mine was worked 
intermittently for a few years. The coal was of 
fine quality, but the vein was too small to make its 
operation profitable. 

Gait is now a town of about 800 people. Its loca- 
tion in a rich agricultural section and its distance 
to larger towns insures it a large permanent trade. 
The business directory for the year 1908 shows 
about twenty mercantile firms. A fire in February, 
1908, destroyed five frame buildings, with the in- 
evitable loss accompanying such fires, and another 
followed in June of the same year, destroying two 
buildings. But the business section of the town is 
now nearly altogether composed of brick and con- 
crete. 

ELIZAVILLE. 

Elizaville, the first town in Liberty township, 
was laid out and a plot filed in the recorder's office 
in 1857. It was located about the M. Wolz place, 
near the Lincoln township line. 



^Inrijlit 



Lincoln township, in the central part of the 
county, north of Trenton and south of Franklin, is 
six miles north and south and eight east and west. 
It is an unusually fine agricultural country. The 
Bain settlement was formed here in 1837, consist- 
ing of the families of Riason and Jesse Bain, Sam- 
uel Kelso, Henry Foster and Wm. Dille. The band 
came from Ohio and Indiana. The first school 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 103 

taught in the township was by Amos Dille in 1839 
and 1840. 

The school for some years was taught in de- 
serted cabins, the first school house being built in 
1849. The township was organized in 1872. Its 
officers are W. P. Marrs, trustee; W. H. Tavener, 
collector; A. T. Cornwell, clerk and assessor; A. H. 
Tavener, constable ; S. D. Murphy and W. T. Wil- 
son, justices of the peace and members of township 

board. 

TINDALL. 

Tindall is a station on the Rock Island, six miles 
north of Trenton. It was made a station shortly 
after the building of the railroad in 1871. 

While its short distance from Trenton will pre- 
vent it becoming a large town, it is an active little 
village wnth a bank, general store, drug store, and 
hardware store, and is surrounded by some of the 
finest farms in the county. 



ct:hisxJtt 



Madison township, located in the west central 
part of the county, is six miles square. While some 
of its land is broken, there is much fertile prairie 
and rich bottom land in the township. It originally 
comprised both Madison and Taylor tuwnships. 

The first settlement in Grundy County was 
perhaps the one made in Madison township in 1833 
by Dr. Thompson and others. That settle- 
ment is discussed in another portion of this work. 
The early history of the township being identical 
with that of the county need not be here discussed. 

The present township officials are N. E. 



104 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Stephenson, trustee; F. M. Prewitt, collector; 
Luther Burnett, clerk and assessor; James C. 
Bryant, constable; D. A. Hudson and B. F. Hum- 
phreys, members of board and justices of the peace. 
EDINBURG. 

Edinburg, the second town in the county in age, 
was located in 1838, Isaac J. Harvey building a store 
here at that date. The town l^eing only four and a 
half miles from Trenton, it had not the natural ad- 
vantages conducive to growth, and it was not until 
the establishment of Grand River college that it be- 
came an important place. This institution, organ- 
ized in 1850, did much for the town. The town was 
incorporated in 1877. In 1880 its population was 
174. The removal of Grand River college did much 
toward bringing about the decline of Edinburg, and 
the passing of the O., O. & K. C. railroad to the 
north and the founding of the town of Brimson did 
more. 



^nxxitn 



JMarion township was one of the original town- 
ships established before the county was organized in 
1841 . It then included all of Wilson township and a 
part of Liberty. It was reduced to its present size 
in 1842. Its first settlement was made in 1838, 
loseph, LTriah and Samuel Rooks, John and Joab 
Holloway, Robert Ishmael, John Brown and James 
Chrisman coming in that year. Marshall Hum- 
phrevs and Thomas Dobbins came in 1839. A con- 
siderable number of settlers came within the next 
few years. 

The first church of the township was built at 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 105 

Lindley in 1858. David Wright, a Christian minis- 
ter, was its first pastor. Its congregation came from 
Linn, SiilHvan and Grundy Counties. Marshall 
Humphreys taught the first school in the townshipj 
in 1845, in a typical school house, with split log 
seats, oiled paper window panes, six foot fireplace 
and mud chimne}'. 

The first township officials of Marion township 
were Samuel Rooks, W. C. Fenner, members of 
township board; Albert Dunlap, assessor; Andrew 
Beckner, clerk ; John Barr, constable, The present 
incumbents are J. C. Stephenson, trustee ; E. W. Ful- 
lerton, collector; Neal Elliott, clerk and assessor; C. 
E. Showers, constable; T. A. McClure and S. A. 
Hartley, members of board and justices of the peace. 
LINDLEY. 

Lindley was at one time a thriving town. The 
land on which it was built was entered in 1841 by 
Thomas Dobbins. The first store was put up in 
1842 by John Austin, Dobbins having as an induce- 
ment to the enterprise given him an acre of ground. 
The store house was a log cabin, and a general line 
of merchandise, including liquor, was carried in 
stock. The town was at first called Stringtown, the 
cabins composing it being strung along in a row. 
In 1845 it ^'^''^^ l^i<^l off and named in honor 
of Congressman James Lindley. The town grew 
steadily until the coming of the O. M. & P. railroad, 
since which time its decline was rapid. It was raided 
by bushwhackers in 1863, ^^'^o robbed the store of 
Marshall Humphreys, and destroyed considerable 
property. 

The Milan Acorn, in July 1872, says this of "the 
livelv little town of Lindlev" : 'Tt is the center of a 




Roweiia 2nd, Champion Dual-Purpose Cow, St Louis World's Fair 1903, 
Property of H. J. Hughes, Trenton, Mo. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 107 

large business at present and in the event of the 
completion of the Kansas City, Keokuk & Lexing- 
ton railroad to this place it is bound to make a 
country seat of no ordinary importance. During 
our rambles about town we called on Mr. C. H. 
Cook, one of the most prominent merchants of that 
place and took a peek at his mammoth stock of 
goods. * * We also called on Dr. Kimlin, the 
gentlemanly druggist * * also had the pleasure 
of meeting Dr. Johnson." 

Lindley was incorporated in 1876, the eastern 
line of its corporate limits being the Sullivan county 
line. The history of Messrs. Birdsall & Dean, 1881, 
says: 

"At the April election, 1881, the following 
gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year : H. H. 
Wilson, mayor; C. H. Cook, treasurer; J. D. Boy- 
ers, T. A. Wliite, Jacob Osborn (council). Nathan 
Harty was appointed clerk and Wm. C. Woods 
marshal. 

"The postal facilities include a mail three times 
a week from Trenton, two mails weekly from 
Wheeling, and the same from Browning. The post 
office is under the efficient charge of C. H. Cook. 

'Xindley has had two schools for the past three 
years, with two departments, secondary and pri- 
mary, which have had a large attendance gradually 
increasing, until the past year 150 pupils were en- 
rolled. Under the excellent management of Mr. T. 
A. White and Miss C. E. Crouch, who have con- 
ducted the respective departments the past year, the 
schools have been numbered among the best in the 
county, and are the especial pride of the citizens of 
Lindlev. 



108 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

"The flourishing trade of Lindley is catered to 
by the following list of merchants, representing the 
various branches of trade designated: 'C. FI. Cook, 
Marshall Humphreys, George T. Moberly, general 
merchandise; Jewett, Elwood & Co., C. H. Cook, 
drugs; O. P. Johnson, furniture; Doty & Cox, hard- 
ware ; Cole & Dunlap, hardware and tinw^are ; G. W. 
Patton, groceries and notions; Mrs. Phillip Robin- 
son, Mrs. Annie Clark, millinery; Nathan Harty, 
attorney; Drs. H. H. Wilson, R. M. Dobson, R. H. 
Cabell, physicians; Lewis & Crantz, Wm. Allen, 
blacksmiths ; Bantz & Overman, blacksmiths and 
wagon makers ; John Osborn, barber ; John A. Pat- 
terson, hotel; H. C. Flagg, boots and shoes, harness 
and saddles; Graham & Cook, flouring mill; Sam- 
uel McCormick, meat market; S. L. Jewett, livery 
stable." 

DUNLAP. 

Dunlap received its name in 1888. Prior to that 
it was called Corneau. The village was established 
about the year 1882, shortly after the building of 
the O., M. & P. railway. Its proximity to Trenton 
and Gait, about seven miles being the distance to 
either place, has kept it from attaining any great 
size. But it is a good trading point, surrounded by 
a good country. It has one bank, one general store, 
one restaurant and other business houses. 

GRANVILLE. 

Granville, an old town, flourished in the fifties, 
very near the present site of Dunlap. It had a gen- 
eral and grocery store, whose principle trade was in 
whisky, and a blacksmith shop. Here occurred the 
killing of McAfee and Phipps, about 1858. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 109 



^g:et:35 



Myers township, in the northwestern corner of 
the county, was organized in 1872. It was previously 
a part of Liberty township, which it resembles in soil 
with perhaps more rough and broken land. Two 
branches of No Creek traverse the township, with 
Honey Creek through the western side and Little 
Medicine through the east. The first settlement in 
this township was made in 1840. In that year came 
Thomas Pemberton, Jacob Thrailkill, James H. 
Ford, John, Alexander and Morgan Ralls, Coonrod 
Wolz,'w. W. Cartfill, James B. Duff, Lewis and 
Milton J. Myers. 

The first school house was built of hewn logs in 
1842 on the land of John Ralls in the eastern part of 
the township. The second was known as the IMyers 
school and was built near the center of the township. 
The first religious services were held by Rev. Rich- 
ard Minshall, Methodist, in the Myers neighbor- 
hood: (he held services at the homes of his flock), 
and Wm. Reed, Christian, who preached in the 
Ralls school house as well as in the residences of 
his people. The Myersville M. E. church was or- 
ganized in 1865, with Mr. New as pastor. Its serv- 
ices were conducted in a school house. The town- 
ship's first officials were: Township board, W. T. 
Chipps, J. H. Alorris and James H. Lord; assessor, 
James Warren ; clerk, John Reed. Its present offi- 
cials are J. H. Schierbaum, trustee ; Sublett Moore, 
collector ; Irvin Kirkwood, clerk and assessor ; Fred 
Koon, constable; E. A. Ralls and Wm. Cunning- 
ham, members of board and justices of the peace. 



110 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

A country post office called Muirton, formerly 
existed in the southwest part of the township. 

A post office called Cookseyville was established 
in the eastern part of the township in May 1888, and 
was conducted for awhile by J. S. Cooksey, who ran 
a country store at that time, and later by J. H. C. 
Bondurant. It was discontinued within a few 
years. 



(Lftitlur 



Taylor township was organized in 1S72. It is 
north of Madison and east of the Thompson fork of 
Grand river. It has some fine country and some 
broken land. The first settlement in tliis township 
was made in 1838. Washington B. and Thompson 
Grubb, and \A. W. McClelland came in that year. 
In 1840 Washington Grubb opened a cabinet shop. 
His tools were a broad ax and whip saw^ The first 
school house in the township was built in 1855. The 
first officers of Taylor township were Hciiry S. 
Lewis, Solomon Cole and Jacob McClure, township 
board ; James W^ McClay, assessor, and Joshua 
Fulkerson, collector. Its present officers are F. D. 
Fulkerson, trustee ; J. R. Kent, collector ; E. N. 
Hobbs, clerk and assessor ; P. R. Fulkerson, con- 
stable; Enoch McClure and A. M. Davidson, mem- 
bers township board; A. M. Davidson and D. C. 
Brown, justices of the peace. 

BRIMSON. 

Brimson, the youngest of the towns of Grundy 
county, is one of the livest and perhaps the best 
town of its size in North Missouri. While its entire 
population would perhaps not exceed 150, it has 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. Ill 

two general merchandise stores, a bank and other 
enterprises that would do credit to a 'town of i,ooo. 
The O., O. &. K. C. railroad left Edinburg, a for- 
mer thriving village, practically off the map. Its 
close proximity to Trenton also added to its decline. 
About nine years ago the idea was conceived of 
building a new town on the railroad to the north 
and west of that village, far enough away to meet 
the demands of a fine trade district w4io were suf- 
fering the inconvenience of having to go a distance 
of perhaps ten miles to a trading point. Acting 
upon this idea, the town of Brimson, in Taylor 
township, w^as born in 1898. It is nine miles by 
rail from Trenton, near the border line of Harri- 
son County, from which county the town draws 
perhaps more than half its trade. The promoters 
of the town are among the wealthiest, most enter- 
prising of Grundy County citizens, which fact has 
been greatly instrumental in making it the live little 
place it is. 



^ttninn 



Trenton township, the most thickly populated 
and wealthiest township of Grundy County, is six 
miles north and south and eight east and west. Its 
early history is sketched with the settlement of 
Lomax's Store. The tow^nship was organized in 
1841. Its history is for the most part identical with 
the history of the city of Trenton, elsewhere dis- 
cussed. It was said of that township in 1881, by 
Messrs. Birdsall & Dean : "Trenton township offers 
every inducement for settlement. There is still 
abundance of land in its primitive state that can be 




Street scene in Trenton on a busy day. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 113 

purchased from eight to twelve dollars per acre, 
and improved farms from twenty to thirty-five." 
The average farm land of Trenton township today 
runs from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty- 
five dollars an acre. 

The township officials are S. P. Love, trustee; 
Wm. Drinkard, collector ; H. W. Sawyer, clerk and 
assessor; A. F. Welch, constable; W. H. McGrath 
and Wm. Brantner, members township board ; Wm. 
Brantner, W. H. McGrath, Lesley P. Robinson and 
John Hack, justices of the peace. 



Wnshht^iiJit 



Washington was one of the original townships 
constituting Grundy County. It was organized by 
the Livingston County court in 1839, extending 
from the forks of Grand River. In 1872 the 
towniship was given its present boundaries. The 
first settlement was made in 1838, Abraham and 
Larkin Field, Andrew \\'eldon and Elijah Burgess 
coming in that year. A school house made of round 
poles was built in 1839. The officers of Washing- 
ton township are R. \\ Kennedy, trustee; Joe 
Moore, collector; D. L. Taylor, clerk and assessor; 
John Hickman, constable; A. M. Robins and J. E. 
Wooderson, meml3ers of board and justices of the 
peace. 



TO:1 



smi 



\\'ilson towmship is situated in the southeast 
corner of the county. It is in large part made up of 
rich, gently rolling prairie land. The first settle- 



114 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ment was made in 1838, the large Works family, 
the Castiles, Alexander Carroll, Wilson G. Perkins 
and Meredith Blalock coming in that year. In 1839 
came the Andersons, Richard Belshe, and others. 
The township was separated from Marion, of 
which it was formerly a part, in 1872. Its officers 
are L. V. Woods, trustee ; L. F. Moore, collector ; F. 
L. Wood, clerk and assessor; J. D. Meeker, con- 
stable; A. M. Warren and J. E. Thomas, members 
township board ; J. E. Thomas and J. G. Robertson, 
justices of the peace. 

ALPHA. 

Alpha, a town which was situated on the east 
bank of Medicine Creek and one and a half miles 
north of the Livingston County line, was made a 
trading point in 1850, when Samuel Dunham 
opened a store at that place. A second store was 
built in 1852, and the place soon became quite a vil- 
lage. It was at first called Lickskillet, afterwards 
Nevada, then Alpha. It was incorporated in 1876. 

The census of 1880 gave the town a population 
of 128. The following merchants were then doing 
business there. Solomon Kilburn, general mer- 
chandise; Thos. Hancock, groceries; O. R. Miller, 
drugs; H. B. Phillips, drugs; Jackson Pridemore 
Owen Kilburn, blacksmiths ; Patrick Woods, wagon 
maker; David Loutzenheiser, harness; Thomas 
Hancock, boarding house; H. B. Miller, James P. 
Thomas, J. M. Stone, physicians. By the time the 
Milwaukee was built Alpha had become a neat little 
village of perhaps two hundred inhabitants. The 
building of the railroad was a death blow to Alpha, 
leading to the making of a new town, Laredo. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 115 

LAREDO. 

Laredo became a town in 1887. A plat of the 
village was filed June 20 of that year, under the 
name of Gorham, and a sale of lots was made the 
next day. It was incorporated in 1890. In 1891 its 
population reached the 400 mark, and the town had 
twenty business institutions. Being on a good rail- 
road and in a good trade district, the town has pros- 
pered from the start. In 1904 it was made a divis- 
ion of the Milwaukee road, the shops being moved 
there from Chillicothe. This caused the business 
and population of Laredo to practically double 
within a year. It is now a close rival of the older 
towns of Gait and Spickards in business, population 
and wealth. 




G. Williams, Mayor City of Trenton. 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 117 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE CITY OF TRENTON— The Legend of Its Founding- 
Crooked Streets— Slow Growth— The Village of Bluff Grove — 
The Railroad Brings a New Era — Trenton in 1871 — Trenton 
in 1878 — Fires — Building Improvements — Water Works — 
The Trenton of Today. 



T 



RADITION being- the father of history 
and generally founded upon facts, the 
following tradition of Trenton's origin 
is given for what it is w^orth. It is 
taken from that conservative and 
XS PV scrupulously reliable journal, the Gal- 
latin Democrat, in an April number, in the vear 

1874: 

"Away back in the early days of Alissouri, even 
so far back that the memory of man 'runneth not 
crosswise,' a farmer living near the spot where 
Trenton now stands proceeded to lay out a town. 
"■' "^ In the center of what he intended for the pub- 
lic square he set a barrel of whiskey on end, took 
the head out and hung tin cups around the outer 
edge to accommodate the weary careworn traveller. 
* * The citizens coming from all points of the 
compass to the 'pool of Siloam' or 'fountain of 
youth,' ^' * soon made the paths very plain and 
buildings began to be reared on each of the 
thorouo-hfares. So at this time Trenton wears the 



118 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

appearance of a huge spinning wheel with the rim 
knocked off. No trace of the barrel remains." 

A more plausible if less poetic theory to account 
for the artistic irregularity of the streets is that in 
early times the roads followed the natural contour 
of the land, without regard to the points of the 
compass and as the village of Bluff Grove, Lomax's 
Store, or Trenton, as it was variously called, grew, 
the houses naturally faced the roads. Thus the 
streets ran and the town was laid out according to 
nature rather than in a stiff and artificial accord- 
ance with the points of the compass. The history 
of Trenton and of Grundy County being insepara- 
bly connected, the founding of the village is given 
in Chapter I, in the account of the settlement of the 
county. Its first store built in 1838, the village was 
commanding a considerable portion of the trade of 
the surrounding country by the time the county was 
organized, in 1841. When the county seat fight 
was finally decided in her favor, the future of Tren- 
ton was assured. It lived the life of a typical pio- 
neer town, growing slowly and gradually, until the 
coming of the railroad in 1871. Then it grew by 
leaps and bounds. In 1870, in the thirty-two years 
of its existence, Trenton had acquired a population 
of 945. In 1880 her population was 3,370. In 1890 
it was 5,039, in 1900, 5,396, and in the enumeration 
made in 1907, 6,221. As heretofore stated, the plat 
of the town was made in 1841, on a tract of ground 
given by James Lomax in order to secure the county 
seat for Bluff Grove. It was incorporated in 1857. 

In the village of Bluff Grove and in the town 
of Trenton up to the coming of the railroad, the 
principle business section was on Water street, and 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 119 

the business center of the town was probably about 
where the Peery House now stands. With the com- 
ing of the railroad the city grew to the north and 
east. 

In 1869 building improvements to the value of 
$65,700 were made, eighty buildings being erected 
or repaired. In 1872 the value of such improve- 
ments was $101,000. The building of greatest 
value put up in 1869 was the Methodist church, at 
a cost of $2,300, and in 1872 the Elmore Hotel, 
$15,000, Kackley Row, $6,000 and the Shanklin & 
Austin bank, $4,000. 

The Rock Island, coming in 1871, revolutionized 
the town. In the same year the machine shops were 
located in Trenton, at a cost to the town of about 
$15,000, all told. 

The Republican says, July 27, 1871 : "Now that 
the railroad is completed there should be a 'buss' 
started to carry passengers to and from the depot. 
If either of the livery stables would start one it 
would accommodate all the hotels and no doubt 
prove a profitable enterprise." At that date Mr. 
Wiseman, editor of the Washington, Iowa, Gazette, 
describes the town thus: "Trenton, Missouri, we 
found to be the most thriving town on the entire 
line except Fairfield and possibly Centerville. * * 
It possesses a finely arranged public school build- 
ing, three churches, three flouring mills, a great 
number of business houses, bright and new, and a 
population of about 1,000." And in 1873 the Leav- 
enworth Commercial comments on the fact that the 
•business men of Trenton are becoming tired of 
frame buildings and that brick buildings are going 
up. A fire company, called the "Trenton Fire 



120 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

King," was established in 1873, Ijut judging- from 
the work of fires for the next decade this king had 
very Hmited control over his monarchy. 

In 1878 Trenton had four mills, one woolen fac- 
tory, seven dry good stores, two groceries, six drug 
stores, five millinery stores, two clothing stores, one 
shoe store, two hardware stores, two banks, two 
newspapers, two boot and shoe manufacturers, 
three blacksmith shops, one second hand store, two 
harness shops, four barbers, four butchers, two 
dentists, twenty doctors, twenty-one lawyers, nine 
preachers, three saloons, two billiard halls, one lum- 
ber yard, one saw mill, two livery barns, six hotels, 
six restaurants and two school houses. 

The fire company formerly organized having 
become defunct, a new one, calling itself the "Rough 
and Ready Fire Company," was organized in Feb- 
ruary, 1881. At this time the city had no water 
works, and the fire fighters must work in the most 
primitive way. January 4th, 1882, fire, starting 
from Torpey's restaurant, burned the greater part 
of the two best business blocks of the city. The 
total damage was something like $75,000. Among 
the heaviest losers were INI. A\'etzler, George Sheets, 
Fred Day, N. Shanklin, Wm. Collier, H. B. Nichols, 
Star Printing Office, Bailey & Kerfoot. 

March 9th of the same year another fire equally 
as disastrous burned the Elmore Hotel and the 
block in which it was located. A traveling man, who 
was a guest at the hotel, lost his life in this fire. 
Other guests had narrow escapes, most of them los- 
ing their clothing. Some of the property owners 
suffering the heaviest losses in this fire were R. E. 
Boyce & Co., L. D. Bailey, Curd Bros., S. W. El- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 121 

more. For the next four years Trenton suffered a 
number of fires, some of them very serious. One 
in February, 1885, burned nearly all of two bus- 
iness blocks. The greatest losers in this fire were 
Mrs. Hemley, Henry Wettstein, W. H. Howsman, 
B. C. Nichols & Co.,'c. A. Hoffman, N. H. Rogers 
and J. B. Carnes. At least a part of these fires were 
probably the work of incendiaries. 

In 1885 agitation for waterworks began in earn- 
est^ and they were secured the year following. The 
water came from a vein northwest of town. In 1887 
the water company decided to extend the mains to 
the river. The city now owns its own w^ater works. 
A great reservoir was constructed in 1907, capable 
of holding enough water to last the city several 
weeks. This is not only for use in time of drought, 
but when Grand River is up and its water muddy, 
water is taken from the reservoir, and thus the city 
is never without good clear w^ater. Trenton's sew- 
er system is far superior to that of the average city 
of its size, and is continually improving. The elec- 
tric light system is unusually good, the city is well 
lighted and electricity is furnished every night and 
all night. Three of Trenton's principle streets, 
AVater, Elm and Chandler, are paved, work is now^ 
in progress on Prospect, and plans for the paving of 
other streets are to be carried out soon. 

Trenton's splendid churches, eleven in number, 
•with large congregations, able and zealous pastors 
and stately and elegant buildings, are a credit to the 
city. Among these are The First Baptist church, 
erected in 1906 at a cost of approximately $30,000, 
and the Christian church, which cost over $20,000. 
The Methodist, Presbyterian, United Brethren, 



122 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Episcopal, and Catholic churches are well repre- 
sented. 

Her business directory contains the names of 
three banks, fifteen groceries, six dry goods stores, 
four bakers, ten barber shops, six bus and cab lines, 
three jewelry stores, seven drug stores, three fur- 
niture stores, sixteen notaries, fourteen doctors, 
eight tailor shops, and a great many other business 
firms. 

She has a court house, erected in 1905, which 
is the envy of the surrounding counties, and a free 
public library, which will make the memory of 
Jewett Norris revered as long as Trenton lives. 
The county fair has, after a few years of great suc- 
cess and a few years of apparent decline, become 
one of the greatest events of its kind in the state 
and for the last three years, each year broke all pre- 
vious records for attendance. 

The Trenton Chautauqua is an organization of 
which every citizen may well be proud. Organized 
in 1906, its first program in that year established its 
rank at the head of the Chautauqua institutes of the 
state. The program of 1907 perhaps eclipsed that 
of 1906 in talent and attendance, and while various 
neighboring Chautauquas suffered from small at- 
tendance and insufficient revenue, this one with 
costlier talent, paid expenses. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



123 



CHAPTER VIII. 



POLITICALr— The First Election— The Barbecue— The Men Who 
Have Led— Early Political Battles— The Grange— The First 
Temperance Move — Local Option in 1886 — Local Option in 
1907— County Officers, 1842 to 1908. 




FROM the year 1864 Grundy County has 
been overwhelmingly Republican. In 
a few instances issues of a local nature 
have been raised which have enabled 
the Democrats to win one or two 
county offices, but such instances 
have been rare. 

The first presidential election in which the peo- 
ple of this county were interested was that of 1840. 
The log cabin and hard cider campaign of "Old 
Tippecanoe" caught the fancy of the frontiersman 
of that day ; besides, Wm. Henry Harrison had been 
a farmer boy and a soldier. 

As a means of expressing genuine enthusiasm, 
the big barbecues of pioneer times make our own 
political rallies fade into insignificance. Succeeding 
elections, however, from the time of Wm. Henry 
Harrison to the time of Lincoln, were less exciting 
and no records exist of local campaigns in those 
times. Before the war the county was close be- 
tween Whigs and Democrats. 



12A HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Prominent among the men who bore the l)runt 
of poHtical battle in the twenty years following* the 
war are John H. Shanklin, George H. Hubbell, R. 
A. DeBolt, Jewett Norris, W. B. Rogers, A. H. 
Burkeholder. George Hall, Luther Collier and 
Stephen Perry. By the close of this period E. M. 
Harber was already becoming quite prominent, and 
P. C. Stepp and O. G. Bain with a number of others 
were taking a leading part in county affairs. To- 
ward the close of the century there was a large in- 
fusion of new blood. Among the ablest and most 
aggressive of the younger men were C. D. Morris, 
A. G. Knight, Samuel Hill, Hugh Smith, Homer 
Hall, W. C. Myers, O. P. Hubbell, O. G. Williams 
and others. 

In 1869 Representative Freeman introduced a 
measure in the legislature abolishing the office of 
probate judge, who was at that time ex-officio pre- 
siding judge of the county court, and of the two 
other county judges, and substituting in lieu thereof 
one county judge with probate jurisdiction. W. B. 
Rogers was especially active in opposition to this 
measure, taking the ground that it was designed to 
frustrate the plans under way to build a railroad 
by cutting off the political heads of the members of 
the county court. At that time prospects for a rail-, 
road looked dark and there was strong opposition to 
the court's policy of continuing to issue bonds which 
had been voted for it. The measure was defeated. 

George W. Hubbell was elected representative 
in 1870, over the republican nominee, after a pretty 
fight. True to the theory that a legislator should 
represent his constituents rather than his own 
views, Mr. Hubbell, a stalwart Democrat, voted for 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 125 

John B. Henderson, the RepubHcan nominee for 
United States senator, against Frank Blair, the 
Democratic candidate. 

Following- the panic of 1873 the secret order of 
the Grange, or Patrons of Husbandry, swept the 
country. The first lodge was organized in Grundy 
County August 30, 1873. Within six months the 
county was a net work of granges, and in August 
1875 it contained thirty-five. One of the cardinal 
aims of the order was to do away with "middle 
men" so far as possible, and have goods produced 
or used by farmers go direct from producer to con- 
sumer. Needless to say, this idea was not very pop- 
ular with merchants and other middle men. While 
it protested that it had nothing to do with politics, 
the order probably owes its early downfall in the 
count}' to the extreme measures it tried to carry in 
county politics. A great convention held at the 
court house January 31, 1874, recommended a re- 
duction of 25 per cent in the fees of the circuit clerk 
and recorder and 50 per cent in the fees of the 
county clerk. The treasurer's salary w^as to be re- 
duced from $800 to $400 a year, and the county 
school commissioner was to have the very attrac- 
tive salary of $3.00 per day for work done in con- 
nection with his office. They advocated biennial 
sessions only for the general assembly, which at 
that time frequently held extra sessions, and that 
taxes be collected semi-annually. 

They agreed further not to "patronize any man- 
ufacturers of agricultural implements or machinery 
or their agents that will not sell to patrons or their 
agents at wholesale rates at the factory." They de- 
cided to ship grain through their own county agent, 



126 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

and deplored the action of the Rock Island in refus- 
ing special rates granted other shippers. Petitions 
were prepared for the state and national govern- 
ment asking for lower freight rates and great quan- 
tities of grain were hauled in wagons across the 
country to Chillicothe, the granges boycotting the 
Rock Island because of its refusal to meet their de- 
mand for lower rates. These demands of the Gran- 
gers in Grundy County were comparatively mild. 
In Chariton County they attempted to do av^^ay with 
all the county offices, and substitute instead only 
two offices, a county auditor and a county judge. 
After a few years of prosperity the grange died out 
in this county almost as rapidly as it had grown. 
But in 1874 it was a power in the land, and there 
were comparatively few farmers of influence who 
did not belong to the order. 

The first temperance move was inaugurated in 
1854. In that year John H. Shanklin presented a 
petition signed by a majority of the tax payers of 
Trenton against granting dram shop licenses for a 
year. The petition was approved and for a year no 
licenses were granted. In 1886 a widespread local 
option movement was carried in this county to a vic- 
tory at the polls, and local option went into effect in 
1887. After a long and hard fight against the law 
it was finally declared unconstitutional in 1889. In 
1907 the question was again put before the people, 
carrying in the county by a great majority, but be- 
ing defeated in the city of Trenton by a close vote. 

The county being overwhelmingly Republican, 
the chief interest in local campaigns is the contest 
for nomination by that party, nomination being 



Iliiy 


ifci iil 1 


• 


•'l^p-*^ 




" 


•i 

1 


^^ 





Trenton Derby, Scene at Grundy County Fair. 



128 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

generally ec[uivalent to election. The Democrats, 
through party loyalty, and in order to keep itp an 
organization, generally put out a ticket for at least 
part of the offices. 

In the following- list of officers, a part of the 
names appearing after each of the earlier elections 
are holdovers, with two years of a four years term 
still to serve. In later elections the holdovers are 
generally omitted from the list of officers of each 
biennial election. 

ELECTION OF 1842. 

Sheriff— W^m. Thrailkill. 

Circuit and County Clerk and Recorder — 
Thomas W. Jacobs. 

Representative — John C. Griffin. 

County Treasurer — James R. Merrill. 

County Judges — Jewett Norris, Robert Peery, 
Isaac J. Harvey. 

ELECTION OF 1844. 

Sheriff— Wm. Thrailkill. 

Circuit and County Clerk — Thomas W. Jacobs. 

Representative — John C. Griffin. 

County Judges — No record. 

ELECTION OF 1846. 

Sheriff— Ashley Gullev. 

Circuit and County Clerk — Thomas W. Jacobs. 

County Treasurer — George W. Moberly. 

Representative — James Livingston. 

County Judges — Benj. F. AVood, Abraham 
Field and Carter B. Whitfield. 

ELECTION OF 1848. 

Sheriff— Wm. Metcalf. 

Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 129 

County Treasurer — James Austin. 

Probate Judge — Wm. Renfro. 

Representative — James Livingston. 
ELECTION OF 1850. 

Sheriff— Wm. Metcalf. 

Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. 

Treasurer — James Austin. 

Probate Judge — J. H. Shanklin (?) 

Representative — Jacob F. Tindall. 

Judges — Giles Songer, Abner Drinkard, Jas. R. 
Merrill. 

ELECTION OF 1852. 

Sheriff— W. C. Harvey. 

Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. 

Treasurer — James Austin. 

Probate Judge — J. H. Shanklin (?) 

Representative — Edson P. Harding. 

County Judges — E. P. Harding, D. F. Wood, 
G. Songer. 

ELECTION OF 1854. 

Sheriff — W. C. Harvey. 

County and Circuit Clerk— George H. Hubbell. 

Treasurer — J. S. Austin. 

Probate Judge — J. H. Shanklin. 

Representative — Edson P. Harding. 

County Attorney — J. T. Tindall. 

County Judges — Giles Songer, W^m. Collier. 

ELECTION OF 1856. 
Sheriff — James S. Estes. 

Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. 
Treasurer — George M. Cooper (appointed) 
Probate Judge — John B. McDonald. 
Representative — Wm. H. Nelson. 
Prosecuting Attorney — J. F. Tindall. 



130 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

County Judges — G. W. Parker, Andrew Evans, 
James Tolson. 

ELECTION OF 1858. 

Sheriff — James S. Estes. 

Circuit and County Clerk — George H. HubbelL 

County Treasurer — S. Isom. 

Probate Judge — John D. McDonald. 

Representative — John Cullers. 

Prosecuting Attorney — J. F. Tindall. 

County Judges — Zela Conkling, Abner Drink- 
ard, Casey Tate. 

ELECTION OF i860. 

Sheriff — E. P. Harding. 

County and Circuit Clerk — George H. HubbelL 

County Treasurer — S. Isom. 

Probate Judge — Stephen Peery. 

Representative — VVm. D. McGuire. 

Prosecuting Attorney — 

County Judges — S. Brooks, J. F. Downing, C. 
S. Reynolds. 

ELECTION OF 1862. 

Sheriff — E. P. Harding. 

Circuit and County Clerk — George H. Hubbell. 

County Treasurer — James R. Merrill. 

Probate Judge — Wm. Metcalf. 

Representative — E. L. Winters. 

Prosecuting Attorney 

County Judges — Abner Drinkard, John Mc- 
Hargue, James G. Benson. 

ELECTION OF 1864. 

Sheriff— Orville Moberly. 

County and Circuit Clerk — George H. Hubbell. 

Treasurer — Wm. C. Benson. 

Probate Judge — D. C. Gibbs. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 131 

Representative — Lewis Myers. 
Prosecuting Attorney — 
County Judge — Wm. B. Dillon. 

ELECTION OF 1866. 
Sheriff— Orville Moberly. 
County Clerk — R. P. Carnes. 
Circuit Clerk — N. T. Doane. 
Treasurer — Wm. C. Benson. 
Probate Judge — A. H. Burkeholder. 
Representative — J. B. Freeman. 
Prosecuting Attorney — Daniel Metcalf. 
County Judges — A. H. Burkeholder (ex-offi- 
cio), George A. Spickard, W. V. Denslow. 

ELECTION OF 1868. 
Sheriff— N. A. Winters. 

County Clerk — R. P. Carnes. 
Circuit Clerk and Recorder — A. K. Sykes. 
Treasurer — W. C. Benson. 
Probate Judge — A. F, Burkeholder. 
Representative — J. B. Freeman. 
Prosecuting Attorney — John M. Norris. 
County Judges — George A. Spickard, W. V. 
Denslow. 

Assessor — J. B. Cooper. 
Surveyor — Wm. Murry. 
Road Commissioner — Luther Collier. 
Coroner — John W. Conduit. 

ELECTION OF 1870. 
Sheriff — Nathan Winters. 
County Clerk — Wm. H. Roberts. 
Circuit Clerk — A. K. Sykes. 
Treasurer — Robert Collier. 
Probate Judge — George Hall. 
Representative — George H. Hubbell. ' 



132 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

County Judges — Gabriel Williams, George 
Moberly, James McCune. 

Assessor — John W. Conduit. 

Coroner — W. H. Flesher. 

Prosecuting Attorney — Fred Hyde. 
ELECTION OF 1872. 

Sheriff — R. E. Boyce. 

County Clerk — Wm. H. Roberts. 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder — A. K. Sykes. 

Treasurer — Robert Collier. 

Probate Judge — George Hall. 

Representative — E. F. Horton. 

Prosecuting Attorney — A. H. Burkeholder. 

County Judges — Chas. Conrads, Geo. W. Mob- 
erly, Jas. McCune. 

Surveyor — P. C. Stepp. 

Coroner — \^^ H. Flesher. 

ELECTION OF 1874. 

Sheriff — R. E. Boyce. 

County Clerk— W. H. Roberts. 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. 

Treasurer — Hugh S. Carnes. 

Probate Judge — George Hall. 

Representative — R. C. Young. 

Prosecuting Attorney — H. J. Herrick. 

County Judges — G. A. Conrads, Felix Wild, 
Wm. Metcalf, Marshall Humphreys and V. Briegel. 

Surveyor — P. C. Stepp. 

Coroner— C. M. Stevens. 

ELECTION OF 1876. 

Sheriff — S. J. Atkinson. 

County Clerk — D. C. Pugh. 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. 

Treasurer — R. E. Boyce. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 133 

Probate Judge — George Hall. 

Representative — P. C. Stepp. 

Prosecuting Attorney — H. J. Herrick. 

County Judges — C. A. Conrads, Fulkerson, 
Marshall Humphreys, Wm. Metcalf. 

Surveyor — B. F. Thomas. 

Coroner— I. M. Patton. 

ELECTION OF 1878. 

Sheriff — S. J. Atkinson. 

County Clerk— D. C. Pugh. 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. 

Treasurer — W. P. Lafferty. 

Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. 

Representative — Benj. Lockhart. 

Prosecuting Attorney — Stephen Peery. 

County Judges — Jas. G. Benson, Wm. Pond, 
Isaac Brainard. 

Collector — Ben F. Harding. 

Coroner — Clarence L. Webber. 

ELECTION OF 1880. 

Sheriff— Wm. H. Wilson. 

County Clerk— D. C. Pugh. 

Circuit Clerk and Recorder — J. B. Berry. 

Treasurer — John Carter. 

Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. 

Representative — Thomas Taylor. 

Prosecutino- Attorney — M, Bingham. 

County Juugcs — I. Brainard, Freman Dunlap, 
I. Washburn. 

Assessor — J. W. Conduit. 

Collector — B. F. Harding. 

Surveyor — C. K. Brown. 

Coroner — C. L. Webber. 

ELECTION OF 1882. 



134 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Sheriff— Wm. H. Wilson. 
County Clerk— R. A. Collier. 
Circuit Clerk— B. F. Harding. 
Recorder — W. A. Berry. 
Treasurer — John E. Carter. 
Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. 
Representative — Thomas Taylor. 
Prosecuting Attorney — E. M. Harber. 
County Judges — Wm. Pond, L. H. Shaffer, J. 
H. Morris. 

Surveyor — C. K. Brown. 
Coroner — G. A. Maupin. 

ELECTION OF 1884. 
Sheriff — Thomas Torpey. 
Treasurer — D. W. Coon. 
Representative — Brown Stewart. 
Prosecuting Attorney — O. G. Bain. 
County Judge — H. H. Yakey, J. H. Morris. 
Surveyor — F. L. Cole. 
Coroner — A. Clave. 

ELECTION OF 1886. 

Sheriff — Thomas Torpey. 
County Clerk— Robt. Collier. 
Circuit Clerk — B. F. Harding. 
Recorder — Hugh S. Carnes. 
Treasurer — D. W. Coon. 
Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. 
Representative — Thomas Taylor. 
Prosecuting Attorney — A. G. Knight. 
County Judges — Wm. Pond, Peter Yakey, J. 
W. Root. 

Surveyor — C. K. Brown. 
Coroner — Solomon Stewart. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 13^ 



ELECTION OF il 
Sheriff — Jesse F. Bain. 
County Clerk— R. A. Collier. 
Circuit Clerk — B. F. Harding. 
Recorder — Hugh S. Carnes. 
Treasurer — Wm. C. Benson. 
Probate Judge — P. C. Stepp. 
Representative — Jas. S. Parker. 
Prosecuting Attorney — A. G. Knight. 
County Judges — J. W. Root, P. H. Yakey. 
Surveyor — C. K. Brown. 
Coroner — Solomon Stewart. 

ELECTION OF 1890. 
Sheriff — Jesse F. Bain. 
County Clerk— R. A. Collier. 
Circuit Clerk — Poe Burkeholder. 
Recorder — Hugh Carnes. 
Treasurer — W. C. Benson. 
Probate Judge — Samuel Plill. 
Representative — J. E. Carter. 
Prosecuting Attorney — O. G. Bain. 
County Judges — J. B. Gass, H. L . Crawford, J. 
W. Root. 

Coroner — J. E. Leeper. 

ELECTION OF 1892. 
Sheriff— C. M. Winters. 
Treasurer — H. C. Lanius. 
Representative — J. E. Carter. 
Prosecuting Attorney — O. G. BaiU. 
County Judges — H. C. Crawford, E. A. Cook. 
Coroner — D. W. Coon. 
Surveyor — D. K. Brown. 

ELECTION OF 1894. 
Sheriff— C. M. Winters. 



136 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

County Clerk — W. H. Howsman. 
Circuit Clerk — A. U. Spickard. 
Treasurer — H. C. Lanius. 
Probate Judge — Samuel Hill. 
Representative — W. M. Denslow. 
Prosecuting Attorney — J. W. Schooler. 
County Judges — C. F. Cooter, H. C. Crawford, 
E. A. Cook 

Coroner — D. W. Coon. 

ELECTION OF 1896. 
Sheriff— J. M. Myers. 
Treasurer— W. M. Morris. 
Prosecuting Attorney — J. W. Schooler. 
County Judges — A. J. Dix, W. A. McCracken. 
Surveyor — J. C. Vannatta. 
Coroner — D. W. Coon. 

Representative — W. M. Denslow. 
ELECTION OF 1898. 

Sheriff— J. M. Myers. 

County Clerk — J. W. Schooler. 

Circuit Clerk — A. U. Spickard. 

Recorder — Hugh S. Carnes. 

Treasurer — W. M. Morris. 

Probate Judge — A. B. Crooks. 

Representative — Homer Hall. 

Prosecuting Attorney — H. C. Smith. 

County Judges — H. C. Crawford, A. J. Dix, J. 
J- Clark. " 

Coroner — D. W. Coon. 

ELECTION OF 1900. 

Sheriff— W. C. Myers. 

Prosecuting Attorney — H. C. Smith. 

Treasurer — E. M. Crawford. 

Representative — J. E. Carter. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 137 

Surveyor — W. H. Spencer. 
Coroner — Dr. S. Sheldon. 

ELECTION OF 1902. 
Sheriff— W. C. Myers. 
County Clerk — A. U. Spickard. 
Recorder — Samuel Hill. 
Circuit Clerk — R. F. Schooler. 
Treasurer — E. M. Crawford. 
Probate Judge — A. B. Crooks. 
Representative — Jno. E. Carter. 
Prosecuting Attorney — C. J. Bain. 
County Judges— H. C. Crawford, F. M. Mad- 
den, J. J. Clark. 

Surveyor — V. O. Hobbs. 
Coroner — S. Sheldon. 

ELECTION OF 1904. 
Sheriff — James E. Estes. 
Treasurer — Jno. E. Carter. 
Representative — D. C. Brown. 
Prosecuting Attorney — C. J. Bain. 
County Judges — R. E. Boyce, G. W. Pollock. 
Surveyor — Marvin Mooney. 
Coroner — Dr. J. A. Asher. 

ELECTION OF 1906. 
Sheriff — Jas. E. Estes. 
County Clerk— W. M. Morris. 
Circuit Clerk— O. A. Picket. 
Treasurer — J. E. Carter. 
Probate Judge — A. B. Crooks. 
Representative — J. E. Ford. 
Prosecuting Attorney — Geo. H. Hubbell. 
County Judges— H. C. Crawford, G. W. Pol- 
lock, W. E. Elliot. 

Assessor — H. C. Myers. 



138 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



Collector — Jno. Newman. 
Surveyor — Marvin Mooney. 
Recorder — Samuel Hill. 

ELECTION OF 1908. 
Sheriff— J. R. Dillon. 
Treasurer — John E. Carter. 
Representative — J. E. Ford. 
Prosecuting Attorney — Geo. H. Hubbell. 
County Judges— W. E. Elliott, G. T. Jackson. 
Surveyor— Marvin Mooney. 
Coroner — Dr. S. Sheldon. 



Vote of Grundy 


County in 


1908. 






President 


Governor 




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^ 


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^ 




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3 


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Precincts 


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Wilson 

East Marion 

S. W. Marion. . .. 
N. W. Marion. . . 

Liberty 

Myers 

Jackson 

Trenton, 1st Ward 
Trenton, 2nd Ward 
Trenton, 3rd Ward 
Tsenton, 4th Ward 
East Lincoln . 

West Lincoln 

Franklin 

Jefferson 

Madison 

Taylor 

Harrison 

Washington 

Total 



181 

44 

72 

87 

222 

106 

67 

103 

203 

226 

302 

51 

129 

248 

123 

98 

62 

48 

52 



161 

21 

11 

24 

107 

34 

53 

80 

127 

137 

160 

28 

57 

72 

107 

82 

35 

50 

28 



187 

46 

72 

67 

226 

107 

68 

107 

213 

232 

322 

54 

131 

251 

123 

100 

63 

48 

62 



2408 1366 2480 1308 



159 

19 

11 

23 

106 

33 

52 

78 

118 

129 

139 

26 

56 

71 

106 

76 

33 

45 

29 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



139 









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140 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. 

Dr. Thompson, the most prominent man in the 
county's early history, was a member of the county 
court when this and Mercer constituted a part of 
Livingston County. As previously stated the store 
house of James Lomax was the first meeting plac€ 
of the Grundy County court. Afterwards a log 
house, built as a Baptist church was used. In 1842 
the contract to build a court house was let to Wm. 
Collier, father of Luther Collier, Larkin Richard- 
son and Joseph Thompson, all of Howard County. 
The building cost $6,000. A jail was built in 1859. 
All the county's business was conducted along lines 
of most rigid economy. Jurors received fifty cents 
a day. In 1850 $3 was allowed for taking the cen- 
sus. What it consisted of is not known. In that 
year the old clerk's office was ordered sold, but the 
court changing their minds, it was repaired instead, 
and burned in a few years, destroying, among other 
things, the records of the probate court. 

The first senatorial district of which Grundy 
County was a part comprised the counties of Macon, 
Linn, Livingston and Grundy. The next, Daviess, 
Harrison, Mercer and Grundy, the next was Mer- 
cer, Grundy, Livingston and Carroll; then Living- 
ston, Mercer, Putnam, and Grundy. It now forms 
a part of the Fourth senatorial district, composed of 
the counties of Grundy, Harrison, Livingston, Mer- 
cer and Putnam. The district is overwhelmingly 
Republican. This county has sent the following per- 
sons to the senate: 

Elected in 

Jewett Norris 1846 

John C. Griffin 1850 

Jewett Norris 1854 



142 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

William H. Lyda 1858 

Jewett Norris 1862 

W. B. Rogers 1868 

A. H. Burkeholder 1876 

Stephen Peery 1884 

The first circuit judge elected from this county 
was R. A. DeBolt in 1864. He held the office ten 
years. Paris C. Stepp was elected in 1892 and 
served eight years. Grundy County is in the Third 
circuit, which includes the counties of Harrison, 
Mercer and Putnam. Thus the circuit is strongly 
Republican. 

This county forms a part of the second congres- 
sional district, which is normally nearlv fi\e thou- 
sand Democratic. The other counties in the district 
are Chariton, Carroll, Linn, Livingston, .M(mroe,. 
Randolph and Sullivan. Grundy Count}' has fur- 
nished but one congressman, R. A. DeBolt, elected 
in 1874. The people of Grundy County h;i\-c rea- 
son for ]:)ride in the fact that peanut politics is never 
injected into public affairs of a non-political nature 
and more especially school affairs. A number of 
our county school commissioners have been Demo- 
crats and have received the unanimous sup])ort of 
the Republican voters of the countv. During the 
greater part of the time in recent years Trenton 
has had a Democratic mayor and township officials 
are oftentimes selected without regard to politics. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



143 



CHAPTER IX. 



EDUCATIONAL^The First Schools— Description of the Old Log 
School House — The Teacher — The Course of Study— District 
Organized — Early Enumerations — Teachers Wages — ^Llst of 
Teachers in 1881 — County School Commissioners — The 
Jewett Norris Library — Grand River College — Its First 
Course of Study — A New Building — Period of Prosperity — 
The Men at the Head — Avalon College — Its Establishment 
The Vrooman Co-operative Scheme — The Trenton High 
School Proper — Growth of the School — List of Superinten- 
dents — The Trenton School of Today. 



"If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon 
brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble 
into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds * * *we en- 
grave on those tablets something which will brighten to all 
eternity." — Daniel Webster. 



S 



CHOOLS were established within a 
very short time after the county was 
first settled, the first one on record be- 
ing taught by Miss Louisa Berry in 
Madison township in the winter of 1835 
and 1836. It was located about a mile north of the 
present site of Edinburg. An Englishman named 
Moore taught school in Trenton in 1838. The very 
first schools were as a rule taught in private houses. 
It was but a few years, however, until school houses 
were comparatively common. 



144 HISTORY OF CxRUNDY COUNTY. 

The school house of the forties was built of logs, 
generally hewn, and was in size perhaps sixteen 
feet square. A fireplace took a large part of one 
end of the house. The chimney was made of sticks 
and clay, as were the chimneys of all other cabins. 
The roof was made of clapboards, and at first these 
were kept in place by weight poles. The seats were 
split logs supported on sticks which were fitted into 
holes bored into the ends of the logs. Such a thing 
as an individual desk was unheard of. A long 
board, fastened against the wall slantwise and held 
in place by pegs, was the writing desk, and the 
pupils would line up to this desk in a row for in- 
struction in penmanship. The ordinary school 
house had two small windows in which oiled paper 
was used for panes, l)ut sometimes light was fur- 
nished by leaving out a log from the side of the 
house. Log school houses were not uncommon so 
late as 1880. 

The first schools were conducted on the sub- 
scription plan, the teacher, who was generally a 
man, making from fifteen to eighteen dollars a 
month. His mental and educational equipment was 
often very meager, and as in later times, some 
teachers were more successful in making impres- 
sions on the back than on the mind. Now and then, 
however, an ambitious young man of culture who 
was seeking his fortune in the new country would 
start by teaching a few terms of school. Reading, 
writing, spelling and arithmetic constituted the 
course of study. Any unreasonable desire for more 
learning was gratified by going farther in the 
arithmetic; but the teacher who had been through 
fractions was a very learned man. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 145 

The first school district in Grundy County was 
organized in Trenton township in 1840. Within 
the course of a few years a number of others were 
organized in various parts of the county. Public 
schools were at first controlled by the townships in 
which they were, the chairman of the school's 
board of trustees being a member of the township 
school board, which had general supervision over 
educational affairs of the township. This system 
gave way to the present system of giving each dis- 
trict full control of its own school. By 1850 schools 
w^ere organized in all parts of the county. 

An enumeration of the children of school age in 
the county in 1853 shows a total of 1,781. Trenton 
had four districts, with 294 children; Madison 
township, two districts, 314 children; Jefferson, one 
district, 176; Franklin, four districts, 244; Clarion, 
four districts, 246; Liberty, five districts, 259; 
Washington, four districts, 240. In all, twenty- 
four schools in the county. The state school money 
for that year amounted to 42 cents per capita. In 
1854 the enumeration had increased to 2,010. In 
1886 it was 5,526, and the county had eight3^-five 
school districts and one hundred and twenty-five 
teachers. 

For many years teachers' wages here, as else- 
where, were ridiculously low^ As a natural conse- 
quence incompetent teachers were not uncommon. 
Yet low as wages w^ere, it was an ordinary thing for 
the ambitious young man in moderate circum- 
stances to teach a few terms as a stepping stone to 
something better. A surprising number of our best 
citizens have begun their business life in this way. 

The following teachers attended county institute 



146 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY, 



in August, 1871 : 

A. S. Bradley, 
Alice Wyatt, 
Rena Stanbaugli, 
Francis Pratt, 
Addie Robbins, 
Maria Price, 
Maggie Wright, 
Hattie Powers, 
Alice Smith, 
Hettie Benson, 
Mary Diinlap, 
R. C. Norton. 
C. E. Buren, 
W. J. Axtell, 
J. B. Mulford, 
J. F. Daniels, 
O. G. Bain, 
J. A. McClure, 
T. A. Canady. 
R. D. Hall, 

In I 



I the foUov^ing 



(Ti-undy County : 

Mrs. P. Ilahlindale, 
B. F. Wood, 
J. D. Linviile, 
Nellie Van Horn, 
Katie Canipsey, 
C'harlcs Evans, 
Lydia Clark, 
( 'arrie Turner. 
Augusta Casebeer, 
A. Tidrick, 
J. D. Canipsey, 
( 'arrie Hill, 
Joel Turner, 
Lizzie Anderson, 
Otis Broyle, 
Mattie Keith, 
Fred Williams, 
Thomas Jollv. 
F. A. Elliott. 
Wm. Elliott. 
T. A. White. 
( 'loc Crouch. 



J. Pollock, 

J. Robb, 

F. Coles, 

Matthew Park, 

P. C. Stepp, 

T. Price, 

C. H. Longfellow, 

W. S. Phillips, 

M. A. Adams. 

AV. M. Hendriekson, 

T. M. Cart well, 

A. W. Kelso. 

J. Reed, 

A. D. Freeman, 

AV. A. Brainard, 

Milton Asher. 

C. M. Duff. 

C. W. Davis. 

C. R. Davis. 

persons were teachers in 



W. P. :\Iadden, 
W. G. Fowler, 
A¥. B. McVey, 
Page Weston. 
G. W. Pollock, 
Linna Root, 
Barton Weston, 
G. AV. Fisher, 
J. H. Bunnell, 

C. H. Savage, 

D. W. AVarren, 
W. M. Denslow. 
J. L. Steele, 

J. M. Crabb, 
L. D. Spencer. 
H. Spencer. 
A. Clendenen, 
David Sealock, 
Jennie AVarren. 
Thomas AVitten, 
W. T. Flesher, 
Lulu Perrv. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 147 

K. H. Bailey, James Goodwin, 

J. R. Donoho, Frank Wilson, 

J. W. St. Clair, Maria Ford, 

C. E. Smith, • w. S. Kent, 
F. E. Fenner, r. r. Pollock, 

D. Fulkerson, j \\r. Maxey, 
S. C. Barr, H. A. Schooler. 
J. M. Snyder, Lizzie Brainerd, 
A. R. Dougherty, James Gallatin. 
Cy Ramage, j. \y. Wilson. 
Minnie Crick. H. B. Groff, 

S. H. Love, B. F. Proctor. 

Mulda Mueller. q h. Baker, 

W. T. Proctor. c! H. Douglas. 

S. A. D. Elmore, Clara Ware. 

Mary Buren. Gee Perry, 

Florence Perry, ]\Iary Perry. 

Alice Downing. Jennie Crowder, 

The office of county school commissioner or su- 
perintendent has been on the whole exceptionally 
well filled, and has been singularly free from poli- 
tics. Grundy County's superintendents and com- 
missioners are as follows : 

1846 — Wm. H. Robinson, commissioner for 
Trenton township. 

1859 — R. A. DeBolt, elected county commis- 
sioner. 

1865 — George H. Hubbell elected. 

1866— R. C.^^orton. 

1868 — Jno. E. Vertrees. 

1870— Geo. P. Beard. 

1872— R. C. Norton. 

1876 — B. F. Thomas. 

1878— T. B. Pratt. 

1885 — J. D. Campsey. 

1895— H. G. r^Iurphy. 

1899— W. C. Ryan. ' 

1901 — R. C. Norton. 

1905 — Miss Lizzie Brainerd. 



148 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

County school supervision being adopted in 
1908 by an overwhelming majority, the county 
commissioner, Miss Brainerd, became county su- 
perintendent by virtue of her office. " 

The Jewett Norris Library is an institution of 
which Trenton is justly proud. Jewett Norris, the 
old pioneer statesman, soldier and business man, 
who in his reclining years left Trenton for a home 
in the north, retained a big heart full of love for the 
town and the people among whom the prime of his 
life had been spent. In 1890 he made a formal of- 
fer of $50,000 to the Trenton school board for the 
erection of a free public library, which offer was 
promptly and gratefully accepted. Chauncey Hall 
was given the contract for erecting the building in 
May 1890, and it was completed and formally 
opened October 13, 189 1. It is one of the most 
beautiful and artistic buildings in the city, and, 
next to the public schools, the most useful educa- 
tional institution. Following is the proposition 
made by Mr. Norris to the Trenton school board. 

Gentlemen : I herewith offer to give to the pub- 
lic schools of the city of Trenton, fifty thousand 
dollars in trust, for the purpose of estal)lishing and 
maintaining a free public library and reading rooms 
in your city. I make this donation on the following- 
conditions, to-wit : 

That your board procure a suitable site for a 
library building, to be deeded to your board for that 
purpose, (and be equipped with furniture, pictures, 
books, and literature), a suitable building for the 
purpose aforesaid, and that the library and read- 
ing rooms so established shall be forever maintain- 
ed as a free public library and reading rooms in 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 149 

the city of Trenton, under such rules and regula- 
tions as your board may from time to time adopt 
for its successful maintenance and support, having 
in view the use of the said library and reading 
rooms, free to the people of Trenton and Grundy 
County forever, and that the same shall be kept 
open to the public every day, from nine a. m. until 
nine p. m. Sunday and legal holidays excepted, and 
on such other days and hours as you see fit, and 
that the said building shall be kept in good repair 
by your board, and that a competent librarian and 
necessary assistants shall be employed to take 
charge of the property and serve the public, and 
that your school board shall annually provide for 
the defraying of all necessary expenses, for the 
support of the aforesaid institution ; and I further 
stipulate that your board shall never sell or convey 
the building, or land on which it is situated, but for- 
ever retain it for the use of the people of Grundy 
County. 

If the above conditions are accepted by your 
board, I will place the sum of thirty thousand dol- 
lars in the Union bank, subject to your order, as 
fast as it is required for the erection for the build- 
ing, and whatever amount of the said sum is not re- 
quired for the building, may be used for the ec^uip- 
ment of said library and reading rooms with furni- 
ture, books and literature. 

When the library building is completed and fur- 
nished with furniture, books and literature, as far 
as the funds at your disposal will admit, and the in- 
stitution is in successful use and operation, I pro- 
pose to furnish twenty thousand dollars more, five 
thousand of which shall be made available for its 



150 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

further equipment if your board think it necessary, 
and the balance as a permanent endowment fund to 
be invested in the same manner and under the same 
restrictions as the common school fund is now re- 
quired to be invested by the school law of your 
state, the annual income from which is to be used in 
the support of said institution. 

Should your board approve of all the above con- 
ditions, you will please give me your formal accept- 
ance of the same and have it recorded with the pro- 
ceedings of your board. 

JEWETT NORRIS, 

St. Paul, January 22, 1890. 

This offer was formally accepted by the school 
board. 

Grand River College, Grundy County's pioneer 
institution for higher education, was organized in 
1850. I. B. Allen was its founder and John O. Mar- 
tin its first teacher. Attaining great success and a 
wide influence through many years, it was a strictly 
private institution, depending on tuition fees for its 
support. Its course of study is interesting com- 
pared with that given by a first class high school 
today. The first contract read as follows : 

"The undersigned agrees and promises to have 
taught in the Grand River Academy any of the fol- 
lowing branches of study for five months, at the 
following prices per scholar ; to-wit : Orthography, 
reading, writing, arithmetic commenced, at six dol- 
lars; English grammar, modern and ancient geo- 
graphy and arithmetic completed, at eight dollars; 
logic, rhetoric, natural, ancient and modern his- 
tory, natural, mental and modern philosophy, at ten 
dollars; chemistry, botany, astronomy, geometry. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 151 

surveying, bookkeeping, Latin and Greek language, 
at twelve dollars. For fuel per winter session, fifty 
cents per scholar. 

(signed) I. B. ALLEN. 

Its first board of trustees were W. H. Lyda, 
Benjamin Fulkerson, and Evans Perry. John Ord- 
way of Massachusetts was principal of the college 
from 1 85 1 to 1853, when the building burned. 
Grand River Academy, as it was called, was at this 
time the only institution of its kind in North Mis- 
souri, and the only school which made even a pre- 
tense of teaching higher than rudimentary 
branches. A boarding house was run in connection 
with the school, and its students were furnished 
board for $1.50 per week. 

After the burning of the building in 1853 the 
college W'as closed temporarily. A company headed 
by John T. Witten and Wm. Perry was organized 
and incorporated in 1858, and put up a new build- 
ing, at a cost of $6,000, meeting the expense by a 
sale of scholarships. With the exception of a sus- 
pension during the Civil War, the college was suc- 
cessfully operated as a private institution until 
1876, when it was turned over to the North Grand 
River, West Fork, Gentry and Mount Moriah Bap- 
tist associations. Under their control the high rep- 
utation the school had acquired was well main- 
tained until recent years, and man}^ of our best citi- 
zens are proud to claim Grand River College as 
their alma mater. The school was finally closed 
and moved to Gallatin in 1893. It is now an 
auxiliary of Wm. Jewell College of Liberty, Mo. 

The men at the helm in the college's palmy days 
are as follows : 



152 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

1850 — Jno. Martin. 

185 1 — Jno. Ordvvay. 

1859 — -Jno S. Tucker. 

i860 — James F. Bruner. 
1 861 — Prof. Bassett — school closed. 

1865 — Messrs. Shaw and Lewis. 

1866 — Jno. E. Vertrees. 

1879 — Thos. Storts. 

1 88 1 — Jno. E. Vertrees. 

1885— j. T. Williams. 

Avalon College, an educational institution under 
control of the U. B. church, changed its location 
from the village of Avalon, in Livingston County, 
to Trenton in 1891. F. A. Z. Kumler was the lead- 
ing spirit in getting the institution established in 
this city. Money for the establishment of a school 
was raised by buying a farm adjoining the cit}^ on 
the east, dividing it into town lots, and selling those 
lots to public spirited citizens at high prices. Build- 
ings were erected on most of these lots, and a hand- 
some college building was placed in the central part 
of the addition. The farm thus bought and divid- 
ed now constitutes College Addition. 

After a struggle of over a half dozen years, dur- 
ing the course of which some very able educators 
were enrolled in the faculty, the college closed and 
the building was turned over to a band of socialists 
under the lead of Walter Vrooman, who rechris- 
tened it Ruskin College. They undertook to run 
not only the school but the town as well on social- 
istic principles, and got possession of a number of 
business institutions of the city which they ran on 
a co-operative plan. Their doctrines did not take 
with Grundy County people, and the school broke 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 153 

up, some of its leaders attempting to establish an- 
other in the suburbs of Chicago. The college build- 
ing was bought for the public high school in 1905. 

Trenton's school history dates back to 1838, 
when an Englishman named Moore taught in a 
cabin on the present site of the old cemetery. He 
was followed by Jarvis Boyce in 1839. he by Geo. 
H. Hubbell in 1842. A regular school system was 
adopted in 1844 and a school board chosen. Col. 
Jacob Tindall was the first teacher chosen by this 
board. In 1853 D. T. Wright built a school house 
in Trenton at his own expense, and became a teach- 
er therein. In 1855 a school house was built at 
public expense, and Joseph Ficklin, afterwards 
teacher of mathematics in the state university, was 
chosen teacher. He was shortly followed by T. 
Bradley. Mr. Bradley held his position until i860, 
when he died and his wife taught out the remainder 
of that school term. Messrs. CoUey and Luther 
Collier followed Mrs. Bradley, Mr. Collier being- 
succeeded in 1863 by R- ^- Norton, a young man 
from Ohio. A separate department, devoted to 
music, was established during the incumbency of 
Mr. Bradley and was filled by his wife. In 1865 
the high school proper was organized by Mr. Nor- 
ton. The number of pupils it contained in that year 
was twenty-three. In 1866 the enrollment had in- 
creased to one hundred. Mr. Norton bought an old 
building for school use, and rented it to the district 
for $48 a year until 1870 when a high school build- 
ing was erected at a cost of $17,000. The number 
of pupils in 1868 was 150, and the total expense of 
conducting the school $1,480. In 1869 a school was 
organized for the colored children. In 1870, the 



154 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

year the new building was completed, 370 pupils 
were enrolled; in 1871 there were 532; in 1872, 400, 
and in 1885, 1,414. 

Professor Norton remained superintendent 
from 1865 to I ^^75' when he resigned his position to 
accept a better one with the Warrensburg State 
Normal, and was succeeded by W. D. Dobson. The 
Grand River Republican in the early fall of 1869 
contained a display advertisement for the high 
school, signed by H. J. Her rick, secretary of the 
board, soliciting attendance of students living out- 
side the district. Tuition for the high school was 
cjuoted at $2 and for the grammar school at $1.50 
per month. The school at that time employed four 
teachers, R. C. Norton, teaching the high school; 
B. F. Thomas, the grammar department; Miss Bell 
Rozell, the primary, and Mrs. Hattie Robertson, 
painting and drawing. In 1874 Professor Norton's 
salary was raised from $800 to $1,000. 

Professor Dobson remained superintendent 
from 1875 until 1880, when he was succeeded by 
Jno. E. Vertrees, who taught one year. G. A. 
Smith w^as elected in 1881. In 1882 a contract was 
let for the erection of a new building, for a price, 
in round numbers of $20,000. 

The following list of superintendents of the 
Trenton school is complete, and practically correct 
as to date: 

1865— R. C. Norton. 

1875— W. D. Dobson. 

1880— J. E. Vertrees. 
1881— G. A. Smith. 

1883 — Professor Carroll. 

1886 — Professor Cornell. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 155 

1888 — Professor Rippetoe. 

1894 — Professor Dubois. 

1899 — Professor Tomlin. 

1 901 — W. C. Ryan. 

1903 — T. B. Ford. 

1906 — C. A. Green. 

The Trenton high school not only articulates 
with the state university with twenty-three and a 
half units of approved work, now ranking second in 
the state, but is one of thirteen Missouri high 
schools that are approved by the Northern Federa- 
tion of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This per- 
mits our high school graduates to enter any college 
or university without taking entrance examinations 
in any one of the following states : Missouri, Kan- 
sas, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, 
Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. 

There are three courses offered the pupils in the 
high school, any one of which when completed will 
enable the pupil to enter any higher institution of 
learning in any of the states before mentioned. 

The English course is designed for those pupils 
who do not expect to pursue their studies beyond 
the high school, thus giving them a very thorough 
and practical education. 

The scientific course is intended to prepare the 
pupil for entering any of the engineering courses at 
the university. The classical course is intended to 
fit those students who complete it to enter the arts 
and science department of the university. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



157 



CHAPTER X. 



NEWSPAPERS— The First Attempt— The Republican— The Times 
The Star— The Tribune— The News— The Gait Herald— The 
Gait Sun — The Laredo Tribune — The Grundy County Gazette 
— The Spickard Herald — The Brimson Banner — The Brim- 
son Booster. 



From one who midst alternate joy and care 

Has occupied an editorial chair, 

Has solved some mysteries that its methods take, 

And learned how easy papers are to make, 

Has undergone from friends much mental aid, 

And wondered where on earth they learned his trade. 

Has heard from them how papers should be run. 

How things they never have to do, are done, 

This short chapter is proffered to his brethren of the quill, 
with confidence that under their guidance the press of Grundy 
County shall in no wise swerve from the high plane of honor nor 
lose aught of the power that has characterized its history. 




THE first newspaper ever published in 
Grundy County was the Trenton Pio- 
neer. It was estabhshed in 185 1. David 
T. Wright was its founder, and for two 
years its editor, seUing the plant in 1853 
to R. C. White. In 1854 Mr. Wright bought back 
the paper from Mr. White, moved it to Lindley, 
changed its name to Christian Pioneer, and its na- 
ture to a religious pamphlet, which Mr. W^right ran, 



158 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

assisted by Rev. H. O. Howard. The paper 
was moved from Lindley again to Trenton in 1859, 
and bought the material of the defunct Herald. The 
plant was burned in 1862, and for two years the 
county was without a newspaper. 

The Trenton Herald was started by E. C. Jones, 
who sold it in 1853 to S. P. Mountain. Mr. Moun- 
tain was a man of strong rebel proclivities, which 
he did not hesitate to express. And it was probably 
because of his radical southern views that his paper 
died for want of support in 1859, ^^^^^ the material 
was bought by the Christian Pioneer. 

The Grand RiA-er News was established in 1864 
by A. O. Binkley and C. W. Buckingham. The 
plant was brought from Corydon, Iowa. Bucking- 
ham soon retired, and Binkley in 1865 sold the paper 
to John E. Carter, who the same year sold it to N. 
T. Doane, who enlarged it from a six to a seven col- 
umn folio and changed its name to the Grand River 
Republican. Editor Doane died in 1868 and his 
administrator. Dr. Kerfoot, leased the plant to E. 
S. Darlington, who, in partnership with \\\ H. 
Roberts, bought the paper in 1869. In September 
of that year they sold it to W. B. Rogers, who has 
held the editorial chair since that date. 

When bought by Col. Rogers the Grand River 
Republican was a seven column folio, neatly printed, 
with a good advertising patronage. His first num- 
ber was issued September 2. In the fall of 1871 it 
was increased to eight columns. In June of that 
year Col. Rogers informs his readers that he has 
ordered a job press, and that letter heads, envelopes 
and similar work which had heretofore had to be 
ordered from the city, could be ])rinted in Trenton. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 159 

In July the Grand River Repu1)lican was advertis- 
ing its job office. In 1872 the name of the paper 
was changed to the Trenton RepubHcan. In that 
year its circulation statement showed 800 sub- 
scribers. 

In the spring of 1873 the paper contained the 
following announcement : 

"From and after May 30 all subscribers who get 
their mail at the post office will have to pay post- 
age. Some are getting it at this office." 

In June, 1879, the size of the paper was enlarged 
to a nine column folio. The subscription lists of the 
Trenton Star were sold to the Republican in 1885, 
which for a time bore the name Republican-Star. 
The Daily Republican, a five column folio, was 
started September 3, 188). In April. 1884 steam 
power was added to the plant. In January, 1887, J. 
A. Gilluly, for a long time city editor of the Repub- 
lican, became a partner of Col. Rogers. In May 
1 89 1, Col. Rogers, having again acquired entire 
control of the plant, sold a half interest in it to C. J. 
Colvin, formerly of the King City Chronicle. At 
the same time the paper was made a seven column 
quarto. In 1900 the subscription price of the paper 
was reduced from $1 .50 to $1 .00 a year. The sworn 
circulation for the year of 1901 was 1,777. ^^ ^9^^ 
N. G. Rogers, the son of Col. Rogers, became a 
partner in the establishment which has since been 
known as W. B. Rogers & Son Printing Co. 

Politically, this paper has since the war been 
Republican. It was consolidated with the Trenton 
Tribune, a rival Republican paper, in 1903, taking 
the name Republican-Tribune. Its weekly edition 
consists of sixteen and its daily of eight five column 



160 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

pages, all home print and machine set. The W. B. 
Rog-ers Printing Co. is now a corporation, with a 
capital stock of $i 5,000. It maintains a separate job 
office and an excellent plant. The proprietors are 
members of the Associated Press. 

The Grundy County Times was established in 
1 871 by Grundy County Democrats. The plant was 
purchased from the Chillicothe Constitution. S. L. 
Harvey was its first editor. He was succeeded by 
Frank Dinsmoor in 1874 and Mr. Dinsmoor by C. 
L. Beechem in April, 1879. Mr. Beechem retired 
from the management of the paper in Noveml^er, 
1879, '^^^1 Dinsmoor again assumed control. He 
sold to M. G. Kennedy in August, 1880. In July, 
1887, the Times was changed to a stock company 
and a daily started. W. W. Witten was the editor. 
In December, 1888, Mr. Kennedy again assumed 
control of the Times and has been its editor since 
that time except during the period from May i, 
1896, to May I, 1898, w4ien the paper was under 
control of W. W. Witten. 

In politics the Times has always been uncompro- 
misingly Democratic. It was from the first a seven 
column folio, later doubling the number of pages. 
Like both other Trenton papers, its presses are run 
by electricity. 

The Trenton Star w^as established as a monthly 
in 1877 by G. S. Dunn. It was a three column 
quarto, and dealt with general rather than local 
news. It was publi..ned a year. It resumed publi- 
cation in May, 1879, and was in August of that year 
made a weekly. The paper was an eight column 
folio, always Republican in politics. In May, 1890, 
Mr. Dunn sold the Star to a company composed of 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 161 

Thos. A. Murphy, Solomon Stewart, George Hall, 
B. F. Harding, R. V. Young, J. E. Carter, C. L. 
Webber, L. Garrett, M. L. Boyles, G. L. Winters, 
H. J. Herrick and A. I. Lord, who incorporated as 
the Star Publishing Company. Mr. Lord was bus- 
iness manager of the paper and Mr. Carter editor. 
The latter retired in July, 1881, Mr. Lord taking 
editorial control. The Star plant was ruined by the 
great fire of 188 1. A new plant was put in, how- 
ever, and the paper continued publication until 
March 5, 1885, when it was sold to the Republican. 
In the meantime G. S. Dunn had succeeded A. L 
Lord as editor. 

The Trenton Tribune was established Septem- 
ber I, 1890, by W. P. Wardrip and A. D. Starr. In 
one month Starr retired, Judge Stepp acquiring a 
controlling interest in the paper. C. D. Morris 
bought Wardrip's interest in the paper in Decem- 
ber. The Tribune was established as a daily and 
weekly, the daily a five column folio and the weekly 
a six column quarto. The weekly was enlarged to a 
seven column quarto in September, 1893, and the 
daily was afterwards increased to a five column 
quarto. It was for a time edited by Morris & Free- 
man, then by Morris & Rowley, the latter retiring 
in June, 1894. Mr. Morris then became sole pro- 
prietor of the paper, which he published until Au- 
gust I, 1895, selling a half interest on that date to 
E. S. Bronson, who retained that interest until 
1899, when Mr. Morris again became sole propriet- 
or. The Republican bought the Tribune in 1903. 

The Tribune was a strong Republican paper. It 
was attractively gotten up, was very active in both 
political and business affairs, and, especially under 



162 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

the management of Mr. Morris, who was instru- 
mental in making the paper a power in poHtics, had 
a very bright, aggressive, and readable editorial 
page. 

The Trenton News, Trenton's latest venture in 
the newspaper business, is owned and controlled by 
a stock company of Trenton and Grundy County 
business men and is incorporated with a paid up 
capital of $10,000. It is aggressively Republican in 
politics. The first issue of the News was published 
May 30, 1907, with Charles Allen and H. W. Saw- 
yer as editors. Mr. Sawyer soon withdrew from 
the paper and in July Mr. Allen retired, W. C. 
Myers taking charge. Under Mr. Myeis the busi- 
ness patronage and subscription list of the paper 
grew rapidly, until September 15, 1907, when J. E. 
Ford became editor and publisher. The business of 
the paper continued to grow steadily, and January, 
1908, a sworn circulation statement showed the 
paper to have 1,164 subscribers. Mr. Ford sold the 
plant to the gentlemen who now own it in March, 
1908. W. M. Denslow is editor, B. C. Nichols pres- 
ident of the company and W. C. Myers, treasurer. 

The News was started as a weekly, five column 
quarto, patent inside. Under Mr. Ford's manage- 
ment the paper was made all home print. The new 
proprietors have added about $8,000 worth of new 
material, doubled the size of the weekly, and are 
putting out an eight page daily, all home print, well 
printed and edited. Before the daily was six months 
old its sworn circulation statement showed it to have 
more than a thousand regular subscribers. The job 
department of the News is equalled by few papers in 
Missouri. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 163 

The Gait Herald, Volume I, Number i, was is- 
sued by Charles D. Parks, formerly of Cambridge, 
Iowa, September 8, 1887. An attempt to start a 
paper of the same name was made by S. J. Graves in 
1886, which was unsuccessful, only a few numbers 
being issued. Among the Herald's first advertisers 
are M. Humphreys, G. M. Brown, Dorsey & 
Knight, A. H. Pratt, Garriott & Haley, G. W. Bid- 
well, Wm. Duff, E. D. Chesman, Gault House, 
(Jennie Winters, prop.) and the Huston House, (J. 
P. Huston, prop.) In 1888 the Herald was sold to 
the Herald Publishing- Company, who in four 
months sold it to Garrett & Butts. These gentle- 
men failing to meet their payments, the plant fell 
back to the company who in December, 1889, 
leased it for two years to M. Bingham. In 1891 the 
paper was sold by order of sale in partition, the buy- 
er being Col. Rogers of the Trenton Republican, 
who leased it to M. Bingham. It was also run for a 
short time, in 1895, by J. T. Smith. Col. Rogers 
afterward sold the paper to Sam and Abe Tolle, De- 
cember, 1895, the latter selling his interest in 
1897 to Joseph Warren, who in turn sold his to Sam 
Tolle & Son. The Tolles changed the paper to an 
eight page six column, which form it retained. 

They ran the paper until 1898, selling it May 12 
of that year to W. E. Payton and Frank Bondurant. 
Mr. Payton in 1900 sold his interest to Bondurant 
Bros., A. R. Bondurant acquiring an interest there- 
in. Most of the time from 1900 to 1904 the paper 
was managed by Frank Bondurant, individually, 
he selling to J. E. Ford, July 21, 1904. The latter, 
May 31, 1906, sold the paper to Fred S. Tolle, editor 
of the Sun, with which it was consolidated. 



164 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 

The Herald was Republican in politics. It was 
at first a six column folio, patent inside, afterward 
increasing in size, the last year being a six column 
quarto. 

The Gait Sun, Grundy County's most unique 
and one of the most successful ventures in journal- 
ism outside the county seat, was started September 
22, 1900, by Sam S. Tolle. He was editor and 
proprietor of the paper until his death, July 2y, 
1903. Since that time it has been published by his 
son, Fred S. Tolle. The Sun is a five column, eight 
page paper, all home print and all home news. It 
prints perhaps more strictly local matter than any 
country paper in North Missouri in a town the size 
of Gait. In 1905 the proprietor of the Sun bought 
the Herald and the two papers were consolidated 
under the name of the Gait Sun and Herald. The 
Sun has always been Democratic in politics, but suf- 
ficiently broad in its political views to hold a large 
number of Republican readers. One of the best hits 
ever made in the county was a series of humorous 
articles originated by Sam Tolle, describing the 
proceedings of "the Old Men's Club," an imaginary 
club of the old men of the town, whose peculiarities 
of speech and manner were set out in a friendly but 
highly ludicrous way. The plant and home of the 
Sun and Herald burned in June, 1908. The plant 
has been refurnished and a new building erected. 
The Sun uses gasoline power and sets its type with a 
Simplex machine. 

The Laredo Tribune was started March 6, 1890, 
by S. J. Graves, formerly editor of the Harris 
Voice. It was a six column folio, patent outside. 
E. R. Anderson became publisher of the paper in 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 165 

February, 1891, and W. E. Pay ton in July, 1891. 
January i, 1896, Ben F. Wood bought the paper, 
which he managed individually until January i, 
1900, when he formed a partnership with C. C. 
Crossen, who is now its editor. The paper has 
been enlarged to a five column quarto, four pages 
of home news. It is non-partisan in politics, though 
its editors, Messrs. Wood and Crossen, have been 
and are prominently connected with the Republican 
party. 

Prior to the establishment of the Tribune an 
unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a paper 
in Laredo in 1888. It was called the Grindstone 
and was printed by the Gait Herald, under the 
guidance of Dr. A. B. Morris. 

The Grundy County Gazette, published at Spick- 
ards, was founded by J. H. Rockwell in 1887. In 
November of that year W. M. Denslow, now of the 
Trenton News, assumed charge of the paper. It 
was started as a six column folio, and was for a long 
time patent inside or patent outside. The files of 
the paper January 1890 to 1894 are missing. Will 
A. Morris became editor of the paper within this 
time and Fred Burri41, under the firm name of Mor- 
ris & Burrill, joined him in a partnership. 

In 1894 the paper was published by the firm of 
Denslow & Burrill, who made a five column eight 
page paper of it. In 1895 W. M. Denslow again 
assumed entire charge. He sold the paper to 
Messrs. Tolle and Newlan, who dissolved partner- 
ship within a year, Messrs Sam Tolle & Son con- 
tinuing the publication of the paper. They sold out 
to P. G. Wild February 8, 1898. J. T. Morgan be- 
came connected with the paper as editor in June, 



166 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

1900. In the fall of that year J. J. Noah became 
publisher. Mr. Wild severed his connection with 
the paper November 29, 1900, J- A. Davidson be- 
coming owner and editor. In May, 1901, he sold 
to E. E. and J. G. Sanders, the latter becoming edi- 
tor. E. E. Sanders took charge of the paper Sep- 
tember 7, 1902. In 1905 Mr. Sanders retired, P. G. 
Wild becoming manager of the Gazette. C. W. 
Claybaugh was publisher from April 13, 1905, to 
January i, 1906. Leon Tracy became publisher 
February i, 1906. 

The Spickards Herald was started in the mean- 
time by E. E. Sanders, former editor of the Gazette. 
It began publication October 25, 1906. The two 
papers were consolidated by Mr. Sanders buying 
the Gazette subscription list, April 25, 1907. Since 
July 24 of that year he has published an eight- 
page four column paper, all home print, under the 
name Spickards Herald and Grundy County 
Gazette. The politics of the paper, as of the old 
Gazette, is Republican. 

The Brimson Banner was established by Tom 
Brown in the town of Brimson about the year 1903. 
It continued publication at Brimson until the first 
of January, 1907, when it was removed to Mel- 
bourne, and is now published as the Melbourne 
Herald. 

The Brimson Booster was established in 1904. 
Its first editor was Fred W. Badger, a man of con- 
siderable ability as a writer. He left in August, 
1905, and was succeeded as editor by Truman B. 
Gibson, who remained until May, 1907, when the 
paper suspended publication, Mr. Gibson coming to 
Trenton to become foreman of the News. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



167 



CHAPTER XI. 



INDUSTRIAL — County Ranks High in Agriculture — Valuation of 
Property — Manufacturing — Table of Industries — Table of 
Wage Earners' Salaries — Review of Manufacturing Indus- 
tries — Mining — Surplus Products of County — Telephone Sys- 
tems — Railroads — First Efforts — Company Organized — Bonds 
Voted — The Rock Island Comes — Machine Shops — Quincy, 
Omaha & Kansas City — Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. 




THIS is pre-eminently an agricultural 
county. It excels not only in general 
agriculture, but especially in register- 
ed live stock. Seldom is there a live 
stock show of any consequence in this 
or any other state that Grundy County 
is not well represented among the winners. Perhaps 
more interest is taken in cattle than any other ani- 
mal, Shorthorns, Herefords and Angus breeds pre- 
dominating, with some fine Jerseys. There are 
many breeders of pure bred hogs in this county, 
and some very noted herds. Poland China is the 
favorite breed. Of late years a considerable inter- 
est, rapidly increasing, has been taken in the grow- 
ing of fine poultry. 

Grundy County has 460 square miles of land, or 
294,400 acres, of which about 200,000 acres are 
under cultivation. Number of farms, 2,298; aver- 
age size, II 8.6 acres, including land of arable, pas- 
ture, and other character. It is drained to the south- 



168 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ward by a fork of Grand river and several other 
small streams. Between these streams are found 
prairie ridges. Uplands are black, vegetable- 
mould soil, twelve to twenty inches in depth, under- 
laid with yellow, porous clay. Bottom lands are 
a heavier black soil which originally was covered 
with heavy, wild prairie grass. When cultivated it 
becomes lighter weight, and is underlaid at twenty- 
foot depth with sheet water. Farm improvements 
are equal to those of southern Iowa. Numerous farm 
homes cost $1,500 to $3,000 each ; better in east half 
of county. Valley land sells at $40 to $75 ; prairie, 
$50 to $100, around Trenton, $100 and up. The 
cheapest land in the county is in small creek-bor- 
dering patches, selling at $35 to $40. 

Assessed valuation of property in Grundy 
County for the year 1907 was as follow^s : 

Farm lands and improvements $2,898,990 

Town lots and improvements 1,019,190 

Horses 250,189 

Mules 41,090 

CatUe 366,845 

Sheep 21,988 

Hogs 56,269 

Assessed value of all stock $ 743,486 

Total assessed value real estate $3,888,180 

Total assessed value personal property. . $1,946,876 

Total assessed valuation $5,835,056 

The value of the surplus products in Grundy 
County in 1907 was $2,014,648. It shipped out more 
than fifty per cent more millet seed than any other 
county in the state, sending out that year 36,220 
bushel. The value of the miscellaneous products 
exported from Grundy County in 1906 was, accord- 
ing to the report of the state labor commissioner, 
nearly three times as much as any other county, in 
all 164,000 pounds. In addition to the amount used 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



169 



at home, Grundy County in 1907 produced the fol- 
lowing exports : 



Lire Stock — 

Cattle, head 

Hogs, head 

Horses and mules, 

head 

Sheep, head 

Jacks, stallions, 

head 

Value, $1,375,520. 
Farm Crops — 

Wheat, bu 

Corn, bu 

Oats, bu 

Rye, bu 

Timothy seed, bu. . 

Clover seed, bu 

Millet seed, bu 

Alfalfa, ton 

Hay, tons 

Blue grass seed, lbs 
Planting and gar- 
den seed, lbs. . . . 

Nuts, lbs 

Miscellaneous, lbs . 
Value, $135,307. 
Mill Products — 

Flour, barrels 1,010 

Corn, meal, lbs. . . . 19,860 
Bran, shipstuff, lbs. 54,000 

Chops, etc., lbs 25,000 

Value, $5,995. 
Farmyard Products — 

Poultry, live, lbs... 263,736 
Poultry, dressed lbs 1,828,905 

Eggs, dozen 1,024,890 

Feathers, lbs 44,874 

Value, $417,526. 
Apiary and Cane Products — 

Honey, lbs 2,100 

Beeswax, lbs 128 

Sorghum molasses, 

gallons 1,500 

Value, $940. 
Forest Products — 
Hardw^ood lumber, 

feet 8,360 

Soft lumber, feet . . 45,000 
Cordwood, cords . . 2,250 



17,320 

47,985 

2,891 
4,284 



29,300 

70,221 

56,229 

6,220 

3,200 

33 

36,220 

1 

402 

175,220 

( 

155 

1,180 

54,000 



Walnut lumber, feet 30,000 
Apple wood, cars.. 3 

Dairy Products — 

Butter, lbs 76,106 

Milk and cream, gal 2,760 

Ice cream, gal 200 

Value, $15,913. 

Flowers and Nursery Products. 
Nursery stock, lbs. 7,600 

Cut flowers, lbs... 180 

Value, $904. 

Fish and Game Products — 

Game, lbs 1,915 

Furs, lbs 4,098 

Value, $1,363. 

Packing House Products — 
Hides and pelts, lbs 121,399 
Dressed meats, lbs. 300 

Tallow, lbs 6,015 

Lard, lbs -. . . . 1,100 

Value, $13,734. 

Medicinal Products — 

Roots and herbs lbs 300 

Bark, lbs 100 

Value, $40. 

Vegetables — 

Vegetables, lb 5,800 

Potatoes, bus 1,337 

Canned vegetables 

and fruit, lbs 20,535 

Fruit- 
Apples, barrels . . . 308 
Value, $924. 

Wool and Mohair — 

Wool, lbs 29,403 

Value, $7,351. 

Mine and Quarry Products — 

Coal, tons 11,000 

Stone, cars 3 

Value, $18,918. 

Stone and Clay Products — 

Brick, common 139,000 

Sewer pipe and til- 
ing, cars 4 

Value, $1,712. 

Unclassified Products — 

Junk, cars 13 

Ice, tons 1,627 



Aggregate value, all commoditties $2,014,648 

Fifty-four manufacturing establishments in 
this county reported to the state labor bureau. Ac- 
cording to statistics given out by that bureau, the 



170 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 

value of goods manufactured for the year was 
$332,889. Value of material and supplies used, 
$161,172. Capital invested, $246,867. Value of 
grounds, $15,000, of buildings, $54,033 and of ma- 
chinery $130,097. They paid in that year for rent, 
$3,916, for taxes, $3,051 and for insurance, $1,168. 
They employed 239 males and 35 females, and paid 
in wages $106,120. The following information in 
detail is from the report of the state labor bureau: 

RESUME MANUFACTURING— GRUNDY 
COUNTY. 

Bakeries — The earnings for establishments 
ranged from $600 to $1,200 a year. Three work- 
ing owners figured on an average of $52 a month 
for their toil and profits of about 6 per cent on their 
investment. Bakers earned from $9 to $14 a week; 
helpers from $5 to $7. Sales girls were paid $13 a 
month. One shop worked its bakers only 8 hours a 
day; others 10 to 11 hours. 

Brick, tiling — The manager was paid $75 a 
month. He took care of the office work. Brick set- 
ters were paid from $10 to $15 a week; clay miners, 
$10 to $12; brick pitchers, $10; brick graders, $12; 
helpers, $6; teamsters, $10; truckers, $10. The 
time was 10 hours a day. 

Canning — Managers and superintendents drew 
$54 each a month. Cappers were paid $9 a week and 
cooks and processors from $7 to $9; laborers, $5, 
and boy helpers, $3 to $4. Females, forewomen, 
$10 a week; peelers, $6 to $9; helpers, $3 to $4. 
Time, ten hours a day. 

Carbonated Beverages — Owner cleared $900 
for work as a bottler and selling the products of his 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



171 




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172 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



173 



plant. Two helpers were paid $7 a week, each. 

Carshops — The master mechanic was paid $225 
a month; foreman, $93.56; clerks, $58; female ste- 
nographers, $55. In the mechanical department 
boilermakers from $19.44 to $27 a week; appren- 
tices, $7.29; helpers, $10.53 to $11.88; welders. 



Total, salaried employes, wage earners, male 

" " " " " female 

■' " " " " male and female. 

Total, salaries, wages 

Owners filling places of wage earners 

Owners, their yearly earnings 

Grand total 



$106,120 



239 

35 

274 

47 



29,804 

$135,924 1221 



MANAGEMENT AND CLERICAL FORCE. 



Position. 


Total number 
reported 


Average 
monthly salary 




Males. 


Females 


Males. 


Females 


Managers, Supts., working owners 

Foremen 

Salesmen 


61 
4 


1 
3 
2 


$68 
92 

""58 


$15 


Clerks 

Stenographers 


5 


13 
43 


Total, male, female 

Total, female, male 


70 
6 


6 
70 






Total , male and female 


76 


76 





$15.66; blacksmiths, $13.50 to $17.82; helpers, 
$9.18 to $10.26; tinsmiths, $16.74; helpers, $6.48; 
pipe fitters, $14.85; carpenters, $13.50; machinists, 
$19.44, and their apprentices, $11.07; ^o^^ machine 
operators, $6.75; drillers, $9.99; tank repairers, 
$12.42; laborers, $10.50; stationary engineers, 
$16.25. The prevailing time was 9 hours a day, 54 
a week. The $27 a week boilermakers put in ten 
hours a day and half of each Sunday. Laborers 



174 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

worked lo hours a day, including Sundays; station- 
ary engineers, ii hours a day. No accidents re- 
ported for 1906 in the shop. 

Carriages, Blacksmiths — AU owners worked in 
their shops, clearing from $600 to $1,200 a year for 
their toil and invested capital; averaging $68 a 
month each. Blacksmiths were paid $2 a day; 
woodworkers, $1.75 to $2, and helpers from $5 to 
$7 a week. 

Cigars — Earnings of each establishment aver- 
aged $1,900 a year. Out of that owners paid them- 
selves an average of $51 a month. Cigarmakers 
worked by the piece, earning from $8 to $12.50 a 
week. An apprentice earned $6, and strippers, boys 
and girls, $2.50 to $3.50 a week. A salesman was 
paid $12 a week. Time, 8 hours a day. 

Clothing, Tailoring — Owner cleared $1,000 a 
year, considering $65 a month salary and the re- 
mainder the earnings of the money he had invested. 
A tailor earned $12 a week with extra pay for over- 
time. 

Cooperage — About $800 was cleared by the 
owners for 200 days in 1906, about 25 per cent on 
the capital invested. Sawyers and woodturners 
earned $2 a day each ; a fireman, $6 a week. 

Flour, Feed, Meal — Mills earned from $500 to 
$1,500 a year, an average of probably 19 per cent 
on the investment. Out of this came the salary of 
the owners for their portion of the work. Engi- 
neers are paid from $40 to $50 a month ; millers $10 
to $15 a week, and helpers $6 to $7. 

Foundries, Machine Shops — Owners figured on 
$60 a month for their work, and from 5 to 8 per 
cent on their invested capital. Machinists and 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 175 

blacksmiths earn from $12 to $18 a week; iron 
workers, $9 to $12; helpers $6 to $7.50. Time, ten 
hours a day. 

Harness — Owners cleared from $40 to $60 a 
month out of their shops, averaging $51 for those 
who worked at the bench. Harness makers earned 
from $9 to $12 a week, and helpers $5 to $7. 

Ice — The plant cleared 6 per cent on invested 
capital in 168 days in 1906. Two managers — stock- 
holders — were paid $75 a month for their duties. 
Weekly earnings: engineers, $15 a week; firemen, 
$10; ice pullers, $10; wagon men, $8.54. A woman 
bookkeeper was paid $15 a month. A total of 850 
tons of ice were shipped. 

Light, Pozver, Heat — Plant paid 6.2 per cent on 
the capital. Two managers were paid $125 each a 
month; a foreman, $85; a stenographer (female), 
$30. For the wage earners; engineers drew $21 a 
week; firemen, $14; linemen, $15 ; gas makers, $18; 
metermen, $12. There was an increase of 9.5 per 
cent for the wage earners, and 20 per cent for the 
stenographer. The skilled workers put in 12 hours 
a day, working on Sundays. 

Lumber, Planing and Sawmills — Four mills 
cleared a little over $3,600. Engineers, sawyers 
and saw-filers were paid from $12 to $15. Owners 
had $60 a month each and their profits. Block-set- 
ters, edgers, planers, carpenters, woodworkers and 
cabinet makers earned from $1.75 to $2.50 a day; 
millmen, laborers, teamsters and timbermen, $6 to 
$9 a week. 

Printing and Publishing — Owners did the edi- 
torial work and all soliciting, earning from $45 to 
$68 a month, with $62 as the average. In addition 



176 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

they had the profits of job work. Female composi- 
tors earned from $3 to $8 a week. Monthly pay, 
female solicitors, $45; female bookkeepers, $26; 
foremen earn from $40 to $60; editors and report- 
ers, $40 to $50. Weekly wages : compositors, $6 to 
$12; pressmen, $10; circulators, $6; boy carriers, 
$1.25 for 2 hours work a day. One establishment 
reported an increase in wages over 1905, ranging 
from II per cent to 25 per cent, with 15 per cent as 
the average. Time, 9 hours a day for the mechani- 
cal and 10 to 15 hours for the management and edi- 
torial. 

Stone, Marble — Owners worked as cutters, set- 
ters and letterers. Stone cutters and letterers were 
paid from $12 to $15 a week. 

Tinning, Sheet Iron — Owners worked at the 
trade, clearing $60 a month on their shops. Tin- 
ners and sheet metal workers were paid from $12 to 
$15 a week when they put in full time, which was 10 
hours a day ; helpers from $5 to $7 a week. 

Woodworking — Owners did all of the skilled 
work, clearing about $75 a month each. A helper 
earned $1 a day. 

The telephone industry was opened up to the In- 
dependent Telephone Companies in 1893 with the 
expiration of the Bell Telephone Company's pat- 
ents. The first movement by the so-called inde- 
pendent telephone companies was with toll lines run- 
ning between towns usually connecting them with 
the county seat. The first one came into Grundy 
County through Gallatin and on to Trenton, pass- 
ing through the county seat to Milan. This was 
the first operating telephone line in Grundy County 
and was built in the year 1884. 



^s 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 177 

Soon after a telephone system was installed in 
Trenton, starting with lOO telephone subscribers. 
The next year the plant passed into the hands of 
its present owners, who are C. J. Bain, P. W. Bain, 
W. W. Bain and R. H. Hemley, and has been owned 
and operated by them until the present time. The 
system has grown from a small rudely constructed 
plant with its lOO subscribers in the county seat, to 
one of a county system with more than 2,500 tele- 
phones, with branch exchanges at Spickard, La- 
redo, Gait, Brimson, Tindall and Dunlap, owning 
and operating hundreds of farm telephones from 
the various exchanges, owned by it throughout the 
county, with splendid construction, making a first 
class system, and being one of the largest of the 
independent telephone systems outside of the cities 
in the state of Missouri, with long distance tele- 
phone connections with all the principal cities of the 
United States. The company is capitalized at $75,- 
000, and managed and officered by C. J. Bain, 
President; P. W. Bain, vice president; W. W. Bain, 
secretary and manager, all being residents of the 
city of Trenton. 

The Gait Telephone company, another strong 
organization, with an actual value of several thou- 
sand dollars, has a network of wires throughout 
the east and north part of the county, giving serv- 
ice to several hundred farmers and townspeople. 

There are also a number of small independent 
lines wholly or partly in this county. 

The future of the telephone industry in Grundy 
County is seemingly as bright as has been the past, 
and the time is not far distant until every household 
in Grundy County will be able to communicate with 



178 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

every other through telephone service. 

There is but one mine in operation in Grundy 
County. A coal mine was worked at Gait inter- 
mittently for a few years, and in Trenton for a num- 
ber of years. 

Of the Trenton Mining Company the state mine 
inspector says: 

"This company is capitalized at $30,000 and is 
composed of the following parties : C. A. Hoffman, 
president; James Overton, vice president; R. W. 
Allardice, manager ; W. E. Austin, treasurer ; I. F. 
Fulkerson, secretary. The company owns 15 acres 
in the northeast part of the city and hold under 
lease 1,000 acres of contiguous territory. The 
mine is entered by a shaft 243 feet in depth, which 
reaches a coal seam eighteen and a half inches thick 
on an average. Electric power is used in operat- 
ing, and ventilation is secured by a fan ten feet in 
diameter. The long-wall plan of working is fol- 
lowed. Twenty-two miners and four top men were 
employed during two months the mine was in oper- 
ation in 1905. The product of the mine was 500 
tons of coal, valued at $1,250. The improvements 
consist of a new shaft sunk, new tipple, engine 
room, blacksmith shop, store house, scales, barns, 
tenement houses and electric hoist, all costing about 
$22,000. This company is worked on the co-oper- 
ative plan. Each miner must subscribe for at least 
one share of stock, and ten per cent of his wages 
are applied for same. Assistant Mine Inspector H. 
J. Hamil visited this mine October 6, 1905, when 
the new shaft had just been sunk to the coal. Tower 
and other buildings were in course of construction. 
Everything on top, as well as in the shaft, is built 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 179 

of white oak timber. This is a new mine ; the first 
no feet of the shaft is timbered with white oak six 
by eight inches, and the remaining 133 feet is tim- 
bered with three by six-inch of the same kind of 
material. Sinking of shaft was begun on the 20th 
of June, and three shifts of men were worked until 
coal was struck. Everything in and around the 
mine is new and up-to-date, and we predict when 
complete and in full operation it will be one of the 
best equipped mines in Missouri. Under the pres- 
ent management there are 107 stockholders, with 
$30,000 working capital. 

No better account of the coming of the rail- 
road can be given than that written by Hon. A. H. 
Burkeholder in 1881, for the use of Messrs. Bird- 
sail & Dean's history. It is as follows : 

"The first railroad projected, and in which the 
people of Grundy County, and more especially 
Trenton township felt an interest, was the old Han- 
nibal & St. Joseph railroad. That road was building- 
west and had surveyed two lines, or partially so, 
and subscriptions were asked all along the routes. 
Some of those connected with the railroad paid 
Grundy County a visit and the result was that a 
proposition to subscribe $25,000 was submitted to 
the people. The election was held and carried, and 
the $25,000 was to be subscribed on condition that 
the money so voted should be expended within the 
limits of Grundy County. As the road was farther 
south, through the next tier of counties below, it 
was never called for. The election cost the people 
$150. 

"The railroad fever again broke out as early 
as 1863, even before the close of the war. This 



180 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

time it assumed proportions that gave hope that 
before it abated the iron horse might come snorting 
over the prairies and woodlands of the county in 
triumph. The Chilhcothe & Des Moines City, 
which changed to the Chicago & Southwestern, and 
still later to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, 
was the first road to take practical shape and to 
promise gratifying results. The history of this 
road forms a very interesting chapter in the pro- 
gress of Grundy County, and a full account of its 
progress and final success will be found full of in- 
terest to future generations and to many of this 
day. It requires energy and perserverence to ac- 
complish any great work, and fortunately for 
Grundy County, she was blessed with a good many 
of that kind of people. 

"It was believed that the result of the war 
would bring about a new order of things in the 
state, and the people along the Grand river country 
were not slow to partake of this spirit, so that as 
early as 1864 they procured a charter for the 
Brunswick & Chillicothe railroad, and in February, 
1865, a charter was also secured for the Chillicothe 
& Des Moines City Railway Company. It was the 
design that the people of Iowa should co-operate in 
the movement to secure a railroad from the capital 
of Iowa south through the Grand river country, 
via Brunswick, to St. Louis. 

In the act creating the Chillicothe & Des Moines 
City Railway Company, Dr. James B. Bell, J. J. 
Clark, J. W. McMillan, J. H. Ellis, John A. Lowe 
and Robert L. Moore, of Livingston County, Dan- 
iel Berry, G. W. A^Ioberly, A. Y. Shanklin, C. Ram- 
age, E. L. Winters, S. Wilson, Wm. Metcalf, Wm. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 181 

Bennett and Wm. Wyatt of Grundy County, J. A. 
Kennedy, John Brown, T. J. Wyatt, A. Lowrey, J. 
Bradley, John Snyder, J. F. Stevens, I. Patton and 
F. M. Evans of Mercer, were made the first board 
of directors. 

"On the 6th of June, 1865, a new constitution 
was adopted which had a provision allowing the 
people of counties and towns throughout the state 
to vote aid to the construction of railroads, pro- 
vided two-thirds of the voters voting at an election 
for that purpose would vote for such aid. Under 
this provision in the constitution, the people of 
Chillicothe and Grundy and Mercer counties co- 
operating together, finally succeeded in voting a 
large subscription to the Chillicothe & Des Moines 
City Railroad Company, to-wit : 

"The city of Chillicothe voted $40,000, Grundy 
County $200,000, and Mercer $200,000, (altogether 
$440,000). 

"So far as Grundy County was concerned, suc- 
cess in voting the $200,000 came by the hardest 
work. No less than three elections were held be- 
fore a two-third vote for the subscription could be 
obtained. At the fall election in 1866 a proposition 
to subscribe $200,000 was defeated; afterward, on 
the 8th day of January, 1867, the same proposition, 
at a special election held for that purpose, was 
again defeated, but the people were determined to 
have a railroad connection with the "outer world," 
and by their zeal and energy kept on pressing the 
question and in March, 1868, a mass meeting was 
held at which resolutions requesting the county 
court to submit the question again, were passed. 
Accordingly, on the nth of April, 1868, a special 



182 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

election was held and the proposition to subscribe 
$200,000 to the Chillicothe & Des Moines City Com- 
pany was carried by more than a two-thirds vote 
and the people were happy. On the 19th of Feb- 
ruary, 1868, the very day when the right to meet 
and organize under the act creating the corporation 
expired, fifteen of the charter members met in a 
called meeting at Chillicothe, and effected a tem- 
porary organization by electing Hon. George W. 
Moberly, president; Hon. Robert S. Moore, secre- 
tary; and Wm. Wyatt, treasurer. At a meeting 
held in Trenton on the 22d of April, 1868, the fol- 
lowing named persons were elected directors to 
serve until the annual election in June following, 
to-wit: J. H. Shanklin, M. M. Thompson, Wm. 
Dunlap, Stephen Perry, I. B. Bell, Smith Turner, 
S. H. Ferryman, Ira B. HA^de, Israel Patton, R. V. 
Ballew, Wm. B. Rogers, H. I. Alley and Peter 
Cain, who organized by electing Col. J. H. Shank- 
lin, president; S. H. Perryman, secretary, and R. 
W. Ballew, treasurer. The president's salary was 
fixed at $3,500 a year and expenses, and the secre- 
tary's salary, to include services for canvassing for 
subscriptions of stock to the company, was fixed 
at $2,000. At the same meeting Hon. Ira B. Hyde 
was appointed attorney for the company, and the 
treasurer was ordered to give a bond for $50,000. 
On the first day of June a new board was elected 
substantially the same and the same officers being 
continued, except that Ira B. Hyde was made sec- 
retary, vice Perryman, resigned. The company be- 
ing now permanently organized and ready for work, 
the president, secretary and others gave nearly their 
whole time to the project of building a railroad 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 183 

from Chillicothe, where it would connect with the 
Brunswick & Chilhcothe road (now Wabash) north 
through Grundy and Mercer Counties in the direc- 
tion of Des Moines and of co-operating with a com- 
pany in Iowa known as the Chilhcothe, Leon & 
Des Moines road. Stock books were opened and 
during the year the total capital stock subscribed 
amounted to $451,500, as follows, to-wit: 

"Grundy County, payable in bonds at eight per 
cent interest, $200,000; Mercer County, payable in 
bonds at eight per cent interest, $200,000; City of 
Chilhcothe, $40,000, payable in bonds at eight per 
cent interest. Private subscription, cash, $3,750, 
and lands in various conditions, $5,750. 

"Steps were at once taken to employ a corps of 
engineers to locate the road, and early in June, 
1869, a strong force w^as put to work to survey and 
locate the road, with Peter Marker as chief and H. 
N. Armstrong as assistant engineers. This work 
was vigorously pressed, so that as early as the 19th 
of February, 1869, the road was ready to be let for 
construction; and on the loth of February, the 
contract for grading, bridging and tieing the road, 
from Chilhcothe to Princeton, a distance of forty- 
nine miles, was awarded to Messrs. Nolan & Moore 
for $320,000, in bonds of the company which 
proved not to be sufficient. The construction of 
the road bed was at once commenced and vigorously 
prosecuted till in July, when a rainy season set in 
and almost totally stopped the work, and as no con- 
tract for ironing, equipping and operating the road 
up to this time had been secured, the spirit of crit- 
icism was developed, and considerable opposition 
manifested itself against the further issuing of 



184 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

county bonds in payment of its subscription, which 
at this time amounted to about $50,000. The coun- 
ty court, composed of Hon. A. H. Burkeholder, 
president, and Wm. V. Denslow and G. A. Spick- 
ard, withstood the opposition, and the president of 
the court continued to issue bonds as the work on 
the road progressed, as the court had agreed to do, 
and notwithstanding 'Black Friday,' (27th of Sep- 
tember, 1869), and its effect on the financial con- 
dition of the country, which strengthened local op- 
position, the board of directors and the members of 
the county courts of Grundy and Mercer counties 
met at Trenton, October 19, 1869, and resolved to 
co-operate together and go ahead with the construc- 
tion of the road bed, and between that time and the 
first of May, 1870, the president of the county court 
continued to issue bonds, as the work in the con- 
struction of the road progressed, until the entire 
subscription of the county had been paid in bonds. 
"About the middle of February, 1870, negotia- 
tions were opened between the Chillicothe & Des 
Moines City Railroad Company and the Chicago & 
Southwestern Railroad Company, which, on the 
20th of April, 1870, resulted in an agreement as 
follows : That the Chillicothe & Des Moines Com- 
pany let and lease to the Chicago & Southw^estern 
Company all that portion of the road bed between 
Princeton and Trenton, and such further portion 
south of Trenton as may be necessary to make a 
convenient crossing of East Fork of Grand river, 
for the full term of nine hundred and ninety-nine 
years, on the condition that the lessees should, with- 
in eighteen months from that time, iron and oper- 
ate the road. This contract was in the main put in- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 185 

to writing on the third of June, 1870. Prior to the 
Opening of these negotiations, the people generally 
had become despondent — there did not seem any 
way out — no feasible plan in sight to get the road 
ironed, equipped and operated, because at that time 
the North Missouri and the Hannibal & St. Joseph 
roads were loaded down with mortgages, and were 
unable to undertake any new enterprise. So when 
the Chicago & Southwestern came in sight, and it 
became known that the foregoing lease was effect- 
ed, the people felt that though there had been 
'groping in the dark,' yet 'there was light behind 
the clouds,' and that the money that the county had 
furnished was well invested, as the management 
was better than had been expected, that it would 
place Grundy County on a great through line of 
railway, connecting with Chicago and the east on 
one side, with the great grain and cattle producing 
regions of the southwest, and the people were again 
happy. And the sequel shows that it was a wise 
movement, as the completion of the road soon fol- 
lowed, reaching Trenton from the north on the 
24th day of June, 1871, and as early as September 
the road was completed through the county, and 
ready for through business to Leavenworth as 
early as October, 1871. 

"In July and August the question of locating 
the railroad machine shops agitated the people. 
The people of Trenton voted $10,000 and secured 
about $3,000 worth of land and offered it to the 
Chicago & Southwestern if that company would 
establish a division round house and machine shops 
at Trenton permanently. The company accepted 
the proposition and the people were again well sat- 



186 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

isfied with their investment, as it has made Trenton 
a first class town and a splendid home market for 
the people of the county. In addition to the above, 
the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad Company 
also received $50,000 in eight per cent bonds from 
the town of Trenton, in payment of a subscription 
voted to the company as early as July, 1869, on the 
condition that their road should pass through Tren- 
ton. 

"In the contract made on the 20th of April, 
1870, between the Chillicothe & Des Moines Rail- 
way Company and the Chicago & Southwestern 
Railway Company, the latter company had the 
right, at their option, within eighteen months to 
complete and operate that portion of the line be- 
tween Muddy creek and Chillicothe, belonging to 
the former, which was then nearly ready for the 
iron. The Chicago & Southwestern did not, how- 
ever, elect to complete and operate the same, and 
after fruitless efforts to get some other corporation 
to do so, the board of directors sold the ties along 
that part of their line and the same remains in an 
unfinished condition today. The board of direct- 
ors elected in 1866 remained in the board, with verv 
few changes, till June, 1877, when a new set of n.en 
were elected as directors of the Chillicothe & Des 
Moines City Railroad Company, who at once 
worked up a feasible plan to iron and operate the 
road between Trenton and Chillicothe, but the 
great 'railroad strike' that took place in July, 1877, 
frustrated their plan, and the same was afterward 
abandoned, and this branch still remains uncom- 
pleted. The present management, headed by Judge 
George Hall as president and E. M. Harber as sec- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 187 

retary, is sanguine that no distant day the road will 
be completed and operated, and the railroads at 
Trenton and Chillicothe be connected. It may be 
added here that while it was originally contem- 
plated to build a railroad from the city of Des 
Moines, Iowa, south, and down along the Grand 
river, via Brunswick to St. Louis, the friends of the 
project succeeded in building a road from Chillico- 
the to Brunswick, where connection was made with 
9, St. Louis line, and from Trenton to Princeton, 
leaving a gap between Chillicothe and Trenton and 
betw^een Princeton and Des Moines in the line as 
originally designed. 

"It may here be remarked that the board, who 
had the management of building the Chillicothe & 
Des Moines City railroad, had many difficulties to 
contend with; mud in the winter and spring of 
1869, and a rainy season in the following summer, 
as well as local criticism and financial embarrass- 
ment. Nearly all the capital stock of the company 
consisted of county bonds which went off stubborn- 
ly at seventy cents on the dollar, and had not the 
county courts of Grundy and Mercer counties sup- 
plemented the efforts of the board the project doubt- 
less would not have been a success. 

*'In February, 1877, a few months before the 
old board retired, they published a financial state- 
ment concerning the entire labors from April, 1868, 
which, in substance, shows that the subscribed cap- 
ital stock by the counties of Grundy and Mercer 
was all paid; to-wit: $400,000, w^hich, in the main, 
was disposed of at seventy cents on the dollar, and 
realized to the company $280,000 in cash. That 
from subscriptions on private stock the company 



188 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

received $2,439. From the Omaha Railroad Com- 
pany, on the right of way, the company received 
$989. From the Chicago & Southwestern Railway 
Company, $11,000 in aid of construction. From 
sale of Grundy County bonds in excess of seventy 
cents, $591, making a total of actual, available cash 
funds with which to build the road the sum of 
$295,469.50. And the records of the company 
show that the treasurer of the board paid out the 
following amounts : For engineering salaries, $48,- 
226.93 ; to contractors Nolan & Moore, including 
work done after Messrs. Nolan & Moore had fail- 
ed, in cash, $246,218, making a total of $294,- 
494.11, and leaving a balance of $575.39 in the 
treasury August 25, 1871, and which was after- 
ward paid out. 

"A casual observation of the foregoing state- 
ment will show that the city of Chillicothe failed to 
pay her subscription of $40,000, and which the peo- 
ple of Grundy County regarded, and at the time the 
city council refused to issue and deliver the bonds, 
charged as bad faith on the part of Chillicothe. 

"It may be added that the Chicago & South- 
western railroad was a mere construction company 
backed up and indorsed by the Chicago, Rock Is- 
land & Pacific which was the real party in interest 
and which was seeking an outlet to the Missouri 
river at Leavenworth and the connection the Rock 
Island has since made at Atchison and Kansas City 
has made the road through Grundy a grand trunk 
line, between the east and the west. 

"In 1850 a proposition of $25,000 was voted to 
the aid of the construction of the Hannibal & St. 
Joseph railroad. $500 were expended by the county 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 189 

court in 1866 in surveying routes through the 
county for the location of the ChilHcothe & Des 
Moines railroad. A proposition to subscribe $200,- 
000 to the Chilhcothe & Des Moines railroad was 
voted down at the November election in 1866, and 
the same was again voted down on the 8th of Jan- 
uary, 1867, but was carried at a special election on 
the nth of April, 1868. At the July term of the 
county court in 1869, orders were made submitting 
the question to the people of subscribing $150,000 
to the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad Company 
and $150,000 to the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific 
Railroad Company and $50,000 to the Brookfield 
& Trenton Railroad Company, but these proposi- 
tions all failed. 

'*In May, 1870, the township of Madison voted 
down a proposition to vote $25,000 to the capital 
stock of the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad 
Company. On the 20th of July, 1871, Marion 
township voted $50,000 to the capital stock of the 
Lexington & Utica Railroad Company. In the 
spring of 1873 Madison township voted down a 
proposition to subscribe $25,000 to the Quincy, 
Missouri & Pacific railroad, and Marion township 
carried a like proposition and Trenton township 
voted $50,000 to the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific 
railroad at the same time. On the 22d of October, 
1875, Marion township voted $15,000 more to tlie 
Quincy, Missouri & Pacific railroad. The city of 
Trenton voted $50,000 to the capital stock of the 
Chicago & Southwestern Railroad Company in the 
month of July, 1869, $50,000 to Quincy, Missouri 
& Pacific in October, 1875, $50,000 to the ChilH- 
cothe & Des Moines City Railroad company in No- 




u 



u 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 191 

vember, 1875, and $13,000 for the repair and ma- 
chine shops in 1871 ; altogether out of the various 
propositions $528,000 of county, town and town- 
ship subscriptions were carried by a two-third vote 
as the law required, and bonds by the county and 
city of Trenton to the amount of $263,000 were 
issued. The respective railroads to which the re- 
mainder of the subscriptions were voted never com- 
plied with the conditions of the subscriptions and 
hence the same were never paid in bonds. The last 
effort of the people of Trenton and vicinity made 
to secure further railroad connection was in July, 
1880, which resulted in raising $40,000 by private 
subscriptions to the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific 
road, payable in one and two years on the condi- 
tion that the road would be built through the cor- 
porate limits of Trenton by the first of July, 1881, 
so that the subscriptions, both public and private, 
amounted to a little over $300,000 but in return for 
this the people of the county have secured railroad 
property of an assessed value of nearly $400,000." 

The Quincy, Missouri & Pacific, now the 
Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City, after creating great 
expectations in Lindley, Edinburg and Tindall, was 
built to Trenton in 1881, disappointing all the for- 
mer towns and giving life to the towns of Gait and 
Dunlap. It was then owned by the Wabash Com- 
pany. The cars on this road first reached Trenton 
in July, 1 88 1. In 1897 the road w^as extended to 
Pattonsburg, making connections to Omaha and 
Kansas City. 

The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road was 
planned through this county in 1885, and the cars 
were running in 1887. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



193 



CHAPTER XII. 



CRIMES, CASUALTIES AND SUICIDES— The Heatherleys— War 
Time Tragedies — Many Tragic Deaths in Seventies — The Mur- 
der of Jack Peffers — The Howell Trial and Sentence — Other 
Murders, Accidents and Suicides — S. C. Wilson Killed — 
Death of Bert Joiner — Other Deaths— Mrs. Ben King and Chil- 
dren Drowned. 



T 




HE purpose of this chapter is to make 
mention, briefly of a portion only of 
those tragic events which have some- 
time been of great moment to the 
communities in which they occurred. 
The record is not complete. 
The doings of the Heatherleys, Grundy 
County's first criminals, are matters of tradition 
rather than of record. We can only know that they 
were here and committed numerous depredations, 
horse stealing and pilfering, prior to 1837. In 
about itS5(S there was a double killing at the town 

of Granville. In a quarrel ]\IcAfee shot 

Phipps and was in turn shot by Clark Kirk. 

Perhaps the first suicide was that of Mrs. Sarah 
S. Boyers, an old lady of Wilson township, who 
drowned herself November 2, icS6o. 

Much ruffianism naturally existed during the 
war. Rascals under pretext of loyalty would com- 
mit depredations on respectable citizens under the 



194 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY . 

excuse of puiiishiiiL;- an enemy of the couiUrv. A 
gang of these characters caught and lianged 
Nathan Sharp, a good citizen, who was a southern 
sympathizer and liad served in the southern army, 
while he was ])aying a secret ^•isit to liis wife and 
children. Joseph Wright, an other good citizen, 
who lived in Marion township, was shot in his own 
door yard Novemher lo. iSh^. His murderers 
_werc never discovered. 

November 24, i^yo, James L. IJirdrow, a voung 
'man of thirty, was killed by the accidental discharge 
of a shotgun which he had taken to the field when 
going to husk corn on his farm in Marion t(.)wn- 
ship. On February 10, 1870, Clark Tutnam and a 
\\'ilmot boy quarreled at a spelling match at the 
Moss school, near Lindley, and on the wav home 
fought with knives. W'ilmot was stabbed nigh 
unto death. Putnam was arrested, cand the next 
day wandered a short distance from home with his 
gun. liis dead 1)odv was found shortly after, and 
he had without doubt shot himself. Benton Wil- 
kerson, who lived in the north part of the county, 
was killed in December, 1870, bv a tree blown down 
by the wind. 

In August, 1 871, little Iliram Elsworth, age 
seven, was run over 1)v a log wagon and killed. 

In the same month a fight occurred between 
James Renfro and John ?^lcXeal, who lived near 
the forks of the river. The (|uarrel grew out of 
trouble between school children. ?^IcXeal was shot 
and killed in the fight. Renfro was acquitted. 

]\Irs. Huston, wife of a Rock Island official was 
killed in a railwav accident at Gallatin in Decem- 



HISTORY OF ORIXDY COINTY. 195 

ber, 1 872. Jn jnlv of the same year ]M)renian Lane- 
g^n of the Rock island l)hicksniith shop was killed 
in a fight. 

August 5, i>>/^'\, a cow caused a wreck on the 
Rock Island which killed a voung man hv the name 
of ]\1 organ and wounded four others. 

Dr. W. W. Smith, a prominent physician of 
Trenton, was killed hy his horse while the doctor 
was on his way to see a patient March 27, 1874. 

Clement Merkart, a farmer who lived eight 
miles north of Trenton, was killed September 17, 
1874, by a log which he was skidding rolling on 
him, crushing his hips. He was dug out from un- 
der the log by a fourteen-year-old 1)ov and lived 
twenty-four hours after the accident occurred. 

Charles Scott was drowned in Moberly lake, 
where he went skating, November 26, 1874. 

Rev. John Evans, a Baptist minister, living 
eight miles north of Trenton, was burned in his 
house in 1875. It is not known whether or not he 
was murdered. 

\\m. Hall, who lived near Lindley, shot him- 
self October 14, 1875. 

Airs. Jane Sayers, a notorious character of 
town, was shot and killed by Dick ]\litchell, Octo- 
ber 16, 1875. 

Wm. H. Mason, aged t\vent}--eight, died of an 
•overdose of opium, taken to reliexe neuralgia, July 
6, 1876. 

INIiss Paxby Kern, a }'oung lady living near 
Alpha, drowned herself June 6. of the same vear. 

The body of AW \\'. Ioi"dan( a well known brick 
maker of Trenton, was found on the railroad track 



196 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

September 15, 1878. It had been run over by a 
train. Whether he met death by accident, suicide 
or murder is not known. 

James Renfro, a Rock Iskmd car repairer, was 
killed while on duty July 28, 1881. He was at work 
under a car when the yard men threw another car 
against it, running it over him. 

As a result of a quarrel arising over the terms 
of rental, Millard Adams killed JNlilton Schooler, 
who had rented a farm of him, near Spickard, in 
July, 1882. Adams was sentenced to two years in 
the penitentiary. The killing was done with a 
knife. 

George Howard of Trenton blew off the back 
of his own head with a shotgun, April 26, 1882. 

In the year 1883 Dr. C. E. Webster of Tren- 
ton thrust a lance into his own heart, 
self. 

Harry Royston, thirteen vears old, was drowned 
in June, 1884, while Ijathing in Grand river. 

Susie Justis, a young girl, drowned herself 
April 24, 1886. In June of that year Wm. Hotch- 
kiss, an employee of the Rock Island, was killed by 
a train. That July Oliver Smith, a farmer, living 
six miles southeast of Trenton, while mowing fell 
from the mower seat in front of the sickle, was 
dragged fifty yards and killed. Robert Kerfoot, a 
young man, committed suicide in November, 1876. 
December 10 Charles Hancock, a ten-year-old 
Trenton bo}', was drowned, breaking through the 
ice while skating. 

August 26, 1887, J\Iiss Ida Sprout of near Gait, 
committed suicide. August 27, Joseph Cable, who 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 197 

lived southwest of Lindley, was killed in a runaway. 

Wm. Kirk, while drunk, knifed his cousin and 
brother-in-law, Robert Kirk of Franklin Township, 
in a quarrel starting over a dog fight, December, 
1887. 

Sarah Brown, the sixteen-year-old daughter of 
A. T. Brown of Trenton was accidentally shot by 
J. W. Hill in March, 1888. 

In September, 1888, Wm. Myers was killed in 
a stabbing affray near Trenton. 

July 5, 1889, Maud Jones of Gait poisoned her- 
self.' 

In April 1889, Curt Nichols killed Jack Peffers, 
an old man who lived in a little house in Grand river 
bottom near Trenton, with a club, and buried the 
body in a pile of refuse near the house where it was 
not found for several weeks. At the time of the 
murder Nichols was hired to Peffers. He was 
sentenced to the penitentiary for life, but afterward 
pardoned out as a consumptive. 

Joseph Howell, who murdered Mrs. Minnie 
Hall, her four children and set fire to their 
home in Linn County, January 19, 1890, was tried, 
sentenced and hanged in Trenton. 

Sunday, Septemljer 28, 1890, Daniel Berry, 
eighty years old, a very prominent citizen of Myers 
Township, was trampled to death by his cattle in 
his pasture where he had gone to salt them. Frank 
Ellis, a young man of Franklin township, was 
drowned while trying to cross Muddy creek, two 
miles east of Spickard, August, 1890. 

The body of John Endicott, of Trenton, who 
mysteriously disappeared the week before, was 



198 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUXTV. 

found in Grand river, December 3, 1891. His 
drowning- is thought to have been accidental. Clem- 
ens Syres, who lived near Spickard, committed 
suicide September 12, 1891. 

Mrs. Flattie ^^IcCammeron, sick and despon- 
dent, sliot lierself, Septeml)er, 1892. Hamilton 
Bran(l\', in a fit of insanit\', hanged himself in ]\Iay, 
1892. 

Al Clavton of Trenton, a drv grx^ds salesman, 
was drowned while bathing in (irand river, July, 
1893. 

Policeman Isaac Dillcy in December, 1894, was 
caught between the drawheads of two cars on. the 
Rock Island tracks and killed. 

Novem1)er 6, 1895, Edward Ricketts was caught 
and killed in a ilour mill at Spickards. 

In 1896 Mrs. Anna \'irden committed suicide. 
]\lrs. Lon Anderson, two miles northwest of Tren- 
ton, shot herself March 7. Albert Haling, age six- 
teen, was (lro\Mied in Grand river, Franklin Town- 
ship, August, 1896. Sam Sanders, colored, com- 
mitted suicide in August of that year. 

S. C. A\'ilson, proprietor of the Ron Ton res- 
taiu"ant, Trenton, was called to his back door at 
night, ]\!arch 2=^, i8(j7, and knocked in the head 
with an ax. Nearly a vear later W'm. Ferguson 
was arrested for the murder, and after a long legal 
battle, convicted and sentenced to the ])enitentiary 
for life. IJaker Smith was killed bv the accidental 
discharge of his gun while hunting, Ajjril 12, i8()7. 

Charles ^\. Payne had his neck broken by a fall 
while on a fox chase near Edinburg, Augwst, 1898. 
In the Septem1:er following J. P. Jarman, mad with 



HIS'IUIIV OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 109 

despondency, took his own life. In Octol^er, 1898, 
Mrs. J. D. Anderson, an old lady living- near La- 
redo, was killed in a rnnawa}-. 

Tn i8(j9 Sam Rinard ot Trenton, assistant road- 
master on the O. (). & K. C, was killed in a wreck 
near Gait. May 15, Leonard Elmore, the three- 
year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. D. Elmore of 
Gait, fell into a well and was drowned. Fire Chief 
Vannatta shot Ed Taylor, colored, porter of the 
Benlah hotel, in making an arrest, Jannary, 1899. 
John O. Parsons, a }-onng- l)nsiness man of Edin- 
burg-, was accidentally shot in a scnffle in May, 
i89(;. In December Lloyd Deal, son of Dr. G. F. 
Deal, was killed by a train. 

EA'ents of the character here sketched which oc- 
curred since 1900 are still comparatively fresh in 
the people's minds. Two tragedies, however, 
stand out above all the rest. One is the murder of 
Bert Joiner, ()ctol)er jy), 1905. He was in Trenton 
that day and started home, north of Trenton, at 
night, in his Imggv. His body, badly 1)nrned, and 
with a bullet in the l)reast, was found in the buggy 
which was on fire when the horse was stopped on 
the road three miles north of Trenton. His mur- 
derers ha^•e ne\-er been disco^'ered. 

B. B. King, station agent at Brimson, in a 
carriage with his wife, daughter, granddaughter 
and a niece and nephew from Kansas City, visit- 
ing them, attem])ted to (lri\e across Sugar creek 
during an overflow. The carriage was swe])t over l:)y 
the water. ]\Irs. King and the ne])hew and niece 
were drowned, the bodv of the former not being 



200 HISTORY^ OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

recovered for several days. The rest of the party 
were rescued after a desperate struggle. This hap- 
pened in the early summer of 1908. 




HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



201 



CHAPTER XIII. 



GRUNDY COUNTY'S GREAT MEN— Jewett Norris, the Carnegie 
of Grundy County — Col. John H. Shanklin, lawyer and 
.Jurist — Rezin A. DeBolt, Politician and Lawyer — Stephen 
Peery, Lawyer and Farmer — George H. Hubbell, Student 
and Lawyer — Richard C. Norton, L. L. D., Pioneer Educator. 



"These Were Giants In Those Days." 



I 



T IS THE purpose of this chapter to re- 
view, briefly, the career of some of 
Grundy County's greatest men who 
have passed over the divide. While 
many a man of commanding intellect 
has taken an active part in the develop- 
ment of this land, some who rose through sheer 
brain power above an unlettered environment and 
some who had all the education and culture of the 
day, six men, perhaps stand out above the rest. They 
are Jewett Norris, John H. Shanklin, Stephen 



202 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 

Peery, R. A. DeBult, (;eorg-e H. Hul)ljell and R. C, 
Norton. 

JEW'ETT NORRIS, the Carnegie of Grundy 
County, was Ijorn on a New Hampshire farm June 
II, i8o(j, and died in St. Paul, Minnesota, May 12, 
1891. 'J'he first fourteen }ears of his Hfc were s]:)ent 
on that farm. His opportunities for securing an 
education were very Hmited, his schoohng being" 
confined to a three months' term a year in the coun- 
try school, yet he became a man of l)r()a(l culture and 
ripe scholarshi]), and head an unusual amount of 
good common sense. 

At fifteen he became a clerk in a country store. 
He worked there alxitit a year, then was in commer- 
cial employ in Boston for three years and in New 
York for se\'en years. 

In 1835 he came to ^lissouri, locating on what is 
now the AW A. ]\rcA ay farm, then unstu'veyed land, 
near the present limits of Trenton. He married 
Sarah A. Perry in 1837. He lived here in a log 
cabin characteristic of the time, and farmed for 
twentv years. During this time he took an active 
part in public affairs, being a meml)er of the first 
county court of this county, and aiding in the organ- 
ization of the county. In 1855 he moved to Trenton 
and engaged in the mercantile business. 

Jewett Norris was elected to the state senate in 
1858, and re-elected in 1862. Fie was a resourceful 
and useful legislator, taking high rank among his 
colleagues. At the outbreak of the war he did much 
to crvstallize union sentiment in this part of the 
state; with both voice and purse he rendered effec- 
tive aid, speaking in behalf of the Union all over this 



HISTORY OF CiRrXDY COUXTY. 203 

part of the slate, lie was eaptain and ([uarlernias- 
ter of the Grundy County l)attaHon of militia organ- 
ized in 1862, furnishing suppHes to this and to the 
Mercer County battahon out of his own ])rivate 
means. In 1863 and 1864 he was Heutenant colonel 
of the Thirteenth enrolled Missouri militia, and was 
mustering officer for many cotmties. 

In 1870, his health being then impaired, Mr. 
Norris moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In Grundy 
County he was always successful as a btisiness man, 
and in Minnesota he made in\-estments which yield- 
ed him good returns. 

In 1890 he gave the city of Trenton $50,000 with 
which the Jewett Norris Library was bfiilt. He died 
]\lav I J, 1 89 1, shortly before its completion, and was 
buried in this city. 

COL. JOHN'h. SHANKLIN, a broad minded, 
capable law}-er, was born in Monroe County, West 
Virginia, (then Virginia), November 2, 1824. He 
was the eighth child in a family of ten. 

He attended school in the rough log school 
houses of that time until he was sixteen, afterwards 
teaching two terms there. At twenty-one he was 
working on a farm in \'irginia. 

In 1846 in com])anv with one com])anion, and 
with less than one hundred dollars in his pocket he 
started west, arriving in Grundy County April 10 of 
that year. The rest of his life he was a citizen of 
Trenton. For three years after arriving he taught 
school. In 1847 he enlisted as a private in the ^Fexi- 
can war, in Capt. (no. C. Griffin's company, and 
took part in the piclures(iue march over the Santa 
Fe trail. In the spring of 1848 lie was made quar- 



204 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

termaster and commissary sergeant under Lieuten- 
ant Ashley Gulley. 

Mr. Shanklin married Miss Kitty Ann Collier 
January 22, 1850. They had five children, three of 
whom are living: Orville M., Walter H. and Carrie 
Vannatta. Shortly after his marriage he was ap- 
pointed probate judge, which led him to take up the 
study of law. He was a partner of Jacob T. Tindall 
from 1855 until the latter fell in the battle of Shiloh, 
1 86 1. Mr. Shanklin was made division inspector, 
with rank of colonel, by Gov. Gamble. He enlisted 
most of the six months militia from this and neigh- 
boring counties. In 1862 he was made lieutenant 
colonel of the Third Missouri state militia, which 
regiment he helped to raise. Soon after that he was 
elected a member of the Missouri state convention, 
to fill a vacancy caused by Col. Tindall's death, and 
served in that body in its sessions of June, 1862 and 
1863. Ii"^ August 1862 he was made Colonel of the 
Thirtieth enrolled militia and was with that regi- 
ment in command of the post at Chillicothe until 
March, 1863, when, at his recjuest, he was relieved. 
After a year spent in law practice he went again in- 
to military ser\^ice in which he remained until the 
close of the war. 

In 1868 Mr. Shanklin became president of the 
Chillicothe & Des Moines Railroad company, and it 
was largely due to his influence that its roadbed was 
transferred to the Rock Island, thus bringing that 
road into Trenton. He was a delegate to the state 
constitutional convention in 1875, and took a con- 
spicuous part in the proceedings, especially in secur- 
ing liberal provisions for the common schools. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 205 

He became interested in the mining business in 
1880 and 1 88 1, investing considerable capital in the 
silver and copper mines of New Mexico. 

Meanwhile James Austin had joined the law 
firm of Tindall & Shanklin in 1858, and upon the 
death of Tindall the firm became Shanklin & Austin. 
Mr. Shanklin and Mr. Austin continued to be asso- 
ciated in business for a number of years, the latter 
partner finally retiring from the law to devote his 
time to the banking business, in which they were 
jointly interested. Colonel Shanklin formed a part- 
nership with Messrs. Low and McDougal of Galla- 
tin in 1876, which partnership continued about ten 
years. He was president of the Missouri Bar asso- 
ciation in 1882 and 1883, had charge of the task of 
building a railroad and highway bridge across the 
Missouri river at Fort Leavenworth in 1886, and in 
1890 was a member of the towaisite committee at 
Guthrie, Oklahoma. He took a leading part in many 
home enterprises. 

Colonel Shanklin retired from business several 
years before his death, which occurred on June 14, 
1904. While he achieved success in many lines of 
endeavor, his greatest prominent is due to his legal 
ability. A man of sound judgment, quick intuition 
and clear intellect, he was always fair, broad, and 
impartial. He was a critical student, and relied for 
success upon superior knowledge rather than upon 
brilliant abilit}', and did not resort to trickery or 
pettyfogging tactics. Grundy County has never yet 
produced a man who stands higher with the bar of 
the state than Colonel Shanklin. In politics he was 
a whig before the war, and afterwards a Democrat. 



206 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COL'NTY. 

A\'hile always active in politics he was never an of- 
fice seeker. 

REZIX A DEBOLT, who was born in Ohio, 
January 20, 1828, was in many ways the opposite of 
Colonel Shanklin. A\'hile the latter was calm and 
judicious, the former was quick and impetuous. Mr. 
Shanklin was always conservative. Mr. DeBolt was 
always radical. 

Air. DeBolt li\ed on a farm and attended coun- 
try schools until seventeen years old. In 1845 he 
was a|)i)renticed for three years to a tanner and fol- 
lowed this trade for a few years after working- out 
his apprenticeshi]). In the meantime he was study- 
ing law and was admitted to the bar in 1856. In 
1858 he came to Missouri, settling in Trenton. The 
next year he was appointed county school commis- 
sioner and was elected to the same office in i860. 
His spare time he gave to the practice of law. 

When the war broke out he spoke earnestly and 
effectively for the Union cause. He was made cap- 
tain of the Twenty-third Missouri volunteers and 
was captured at Shiloh. Entering the service again 
in 1864 after a term of imprisonment and a term of 
retirement he was commissioned major of the Forty- 
fourth ]\Iissouri volunteers, remaining with his com- 
mand until the close of the war. 

In 1863 ^^^- DeBolt was elected circuit judge, 
which office he held till 1875. 

For a time supporting the Republican partv, he 
changed his political affiliations and in 1877 was 
elected to congress on the Democratic ticket. After 
a term in congress he devoted his entire time to the 
practice of law. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 207 

]\Ir. DeBolt was married to Maria IMcClery in 
Ohio, in 1840. His wife dying- in 1869, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Laurestine \J. Dinsmoor of Canada. 
Mr. DeBoh died Octo1)er 29, 1891. 

STEPHEN Ph:]^R\' was liorn on a \'ir-inia 
farm June 2/, 1836. ] lis parents came to ?^Iissouri 
in 1838, setthng- on a farm near Edinburg, where 
he grew to manhood. He attended Grand River col- 
lege for some time, afterwards taking a course in 
law at ?^IcKendrick college, Illinois, 1855. 

Mr. Pcery entered the law of (ice of Tindall & 
Shanklin in 1856 and was admitted to the bar in 
1857. He opened up a law office in Trenton in 1859, 
where he practiced for many years. 

]\lr. Peery was married to Miss Emma Plendrick 
of Trenton in 1858. Seven children were born to 
them. 

In politics he was an aggressive Repul:)lican. His 
first political office was probate judge, he being 
elected to that place in 1859. He was elected to the 
state senate in 1890. Pie was perhaps more a shrewd, 
live, active business man than politician, though he 
had much influence in politics. 

Pic lost his health about the close of his term in 
the senate, traveled west at the expiration of that 
term, and at last, despairing of recovery, shot him- 
self through the heart at Phoenix, Arizona, January 
31, 1896. The body was Ijrought to Grundy County 
for interment. 

GEORGE PI. HUBBELL was born in New 
York, Eebruary 11, 1818, where he lived till sixteen 
years old. In 1835 he came west, becoming a stu- 
dent of Marion college, then a thriving institution in 



208 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Marion county, Missouri. Here he remained three 
years, leaving for Howard County, where he taught 
school and studied law. In 1842 he moved to Buch- 
anan County settling at Sparta, then the county seat, 
the next year coming to Grundy County, which he 
made his home until his death. Air. Hubbell prac- 
ticed law until 1847 when he was elected clerk of the 
county and circuit courts which office he held seven- 
teen years, making one of the best officers the 
county ever had. In 1870, notwithstanding the fact 
that he was a staunch Democrat and this a strong 
Republican county, he was elected representative. A 
trait of his character which made him popular is 
shown in the fact that he voted for John B. Hender- 
son, the Republican candidate for United States sen- 
ator against Frank Blair, the Democratic candidate, 
because the majority of his constitutents were Re- 
publicans who wanted Henderson. 

jMr. Hubbell for a number of years lived on a 
farm in this county. To the last days of his life he 
took a keen interest in the educational, political and 
industrial affairs of the county, and even in his ex- 
treme old age his mind was vigorous and keen and 
his memory remarkably retentive. He died Decem- 
ber 16, 1906. 

RICHARD C. NORTON, L.L.D., pioneer edu- 
cator and father of the Trenton High school, was 
born near Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, June 16, 
1840. Died at his home in Trenton, Missouri, Tvlon- 
day. May 18, 1908. He spent his early life on the 
farm, attending the public schools and afterward fin- 
ishing his education in Hiram college, of which 
James A. Garfield, was president. Possessed of 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxXTY. 209 

more than average natural ability, strengthened by 
the vigor of a country life, under the shadow of 
Hiram college, which brought him in contact with 
scholarly men and with commendable aspirations, 
he soon acquired a deep culture of mind and heart 
that pervaded his after years and fitted him for the 
manifold duties of a useful and successful life. He 
united with the Christian church in 1864. 

At the breaking out of the civil war, though a 
young man with a bright prospect before him, his 
love for his country prompted him to become one of 
its 'defenders. He became a member of Company A, 
Forty-second regiment, Ohio vounteers, commanded 
by James A. Garfield. 

On account of ill health he was disch-arged 
March 18, 1863. On the 17th day of March 1864, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Marian Lucretia 
Mason, who survives him. In the spring of 1865 
they moved to this county, where he was made prin- 
cipal of the Trenton public school, then occupying 
two rooms. He at once reorganized the schools 
which grew until additional room was required, and 
the central part of the Central school building com- 
posed of eight rooms was erected. 

He also filled the position of county school com- 
missioner under the law enacted immediately after 
the civil war, and organized the entire county into 
districts. 

He was also one of the engineers and did much 
of the work of locating the C, R. I. & P. railroad, 
through the county. 

In 1875 Dr. Norton resigned the principalship of 
the Trenton schools to accept a chair in the War- 



.210 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

rensburg state normal, taking with him many stu- 
dents to that institution from this county. When 
the state normal school was established by the legis- 
lature at Cape Girardeau, he was made president, 
"which position he held for thirteen years. Feeling 
that his life and that of his companion were suffi- 
ciently far advanced, that they should have a per- 
manent home, he resigned the presidency of the 
Cape Girardeau school, very much against the 
wishes of the entire board of regents and returned 
to Trenton to erect a home for his declining years. 
But he was not permitted to stay out of the 
school work long. After six months rest he was 
elected to a chair in the state normal in Kirksville, 
which he held for several years, but making Tren- 
ton his settled home. He afterward taught a few 
classes in Avalon college in Trenton under Prof. 
Kumler, the founder of the college, and also filled 
the position of county school commissioner until he 
declined to serve longer. He was one of the promi- 
nent educators of the state and was often urged to 
become a candidate for state superintendent. 




HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



211 



CHAPTER IV. 



BY H. J. BAI>. 



PEN PICTURE OF CITY— Schools— Library— Churches— Banks 
— Park — Hotels — Court House — Fire Company — Railroads — 
Gas and Electric Light Co. — Newspapers — Mining — Tele- 
phone — Postoffice — Ice Company — Brick and Tile Company 
— Poultry Plant — Missouri Auction School — Wholesale Busi- 
ness — Golf — Automobiles — Corn Show — Chautauqua — Lecture 
Course — Sewers — Paving — Water — Resume. 



T 



RENTON as it is today, has a popula- 
tion estimated at 7,000 people and is 
one of the thriving little cities situated 
in North Missouri. It measures a mile 
and a quarter North and South and 
two miles and a quarter East and West 
and is situated near the center of Grundy County. 
It has never had the excitement of a boom, or the 
relapse of a backset, but has reached its present 
size and importance by gradual growth and steady 
development. Unlike most cities, it. is not laid out 
after the fashion of the prosaic checkerboard, but 
instead its streets and avenues meander where- 
soever they will. Some of its thoroughfares are as 



212 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

winding and run as unmindful of the compass as 
those of historic Boston or ancient Rome. The 
principal business streets are Water and Elm 
streets. The former begins at the Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific Railway depot and runs 
thence to Five Points and from there it winds back 
and forth like the trail of a huge snake in a south- 
ward course until it reaches Water Street bridge. 
Along this street coming north from the river, the 
business of the town has grown and developed. 
Time was when the court house block was the cen- 
ter of the business activity of the town, lout this has 
changed as the years have come and gone, and bus- 
iness has now moved northward to Five Points and 
is still continuing farther north on Elm street. 

The city is justly proud of its industries and 
resources and all the institutions within its border 
Vsdiich have contributed to its prosperity and 
growth. Foremost among the list is the excellent 
public school system. There are located within the 
city, a central school building, two ward schools, 
the high school building and the Garfield school for 
colored students. The central school is at the cor- 
ner of Elm and Winter streets near the central part 
of town and is composed of a large tw\o-story main 
building with one three-story wing on either side, 
making it a very imposing structure v\hich rarely 
fails to excite the curosity of a stranger when vis- 
iting our city. The main building or middle struc- 
ture was Ijuilt in 1868 and the wings were added 
about 1884. The entire building as it now stands, 
contains twenty-four recitation rooms, besides the 
superintendent's office and assembly rooms. The 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 213 

two ward schools w^ere built in 1896, one in the 
third ward and one in the fourth ward of the city 
and they contain four rooms each. 

The high school is located in College addition 
and is the building originally built to be the home 
of Avalon College. The college hav- 
ing failed of success was purchased 
by the Trenton school district in 1906 at the 
very reasonable figure of $10,000.00, and converted 
into the Trenton High School. The building has 
three stories, is modern in all its equipments, with 
laboratories and all facilities for instruction by the 
most approved methods of modern schools. The 
Garfield School is maintained exclusively for col- 
ored pupils and located in northwest part of town. 
The Trenton High School has an enrollment of 157 
pupils. The grade schools, embracing all below the 
high school have an enrollment of 9_i.o. The prin- 
cipal of the high school is Mr. L. D. Roberts; of 
the third w^ard, Anna Westernacher ; of the fourth 
ward, Myrtle Magee; of the Central school Miss 
Sadie Yates, and of the Garfield school. Miss Edna 
Cooper. At the head of the entire system as super- 
intendent, is Mr. C. A. Greene, an energetic and ca- 
pable young educator, w-ho took charge of the 
schools as superintendent in the fall of 1906. By 
his unceasing efforts to improve and raise the 
standard of proficiency of our schools, he has suc- 
ceeded in getting our high school placed in the sec- 
ond rank among the high schools of the state in the 
requirements necessary for entrance to the State 
Universitv, and it is now one of thirteen Missouri 
high schools that are approved by the Northern 



214 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Federation of Colleges and Secondary Schools. 
This permits our graduates to enter any college 
in any one of the following states: Missouri, 
Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South 
Dakota , Minnesota, Iowa , Wisconsin, Illinois, 
Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The high school em- 
braces four years of work with a well arranged 
course of study and is well supported and thorough- 
ly patronized by students in Trenton and the sur- 
rounding towns. 

At the corner of Prospect and Elm street, 
stands the Jewett Norris library, a magnificent 
three-story building of pressed brick and stone. 
It is not a Carnegie library, but came as a gift to 
the city from Jewett Norris, one of its public spir- 
ited citizens, who made his wealth among Grundy 
county people, and left at his death, this lasting 
monument to his name and memory. The building 
and equipment represents $50,000.00 and was 
erected in iSgo. It has an endowment of $15,000 
besides, on annual income from the Trenton school 
district of $500.00. The equipment consists of over 
6000 \'()]umes purchased at a cost of $15,000.00, 
with substantial additions made to it annually 
The advantages of this most generous gift are 
fully appreciated as is evidenced by the fact that 
the annual circulation is now over twenty thous- 
and volumes. Mrs. Carrie Rogers Clark is the 
present librarian and Mr. J. H. Flesher, the assist- 
ant. 

Within the past three years , Trenton has 
spent over $55,000.00 for churches, the last to be 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 215 

completed, being the Baptist church, located at the 
corner of Elm and Chandler streets. It is a mag- 
nificent structure, massive and imposing, and built 
of Trenton pressed brick, at a cost of $25,000.00. 
It is complete with modern appointments and con- 
veniences and has a seating capacity of 1000 per- 
sons. The present pastor is Rev. J. B. Benton. 
The year preceding the building of the Baptist 
church marked the completion of the Christian 
church. This is also a large and handsome struc- 
ture, erected at a cost of over $20,000.00. Its audi- 
torium and galleries will seat 1200 people and is lo- 
cated at the corner of Chestnut and Winter streets. 
This church is the largest yet erected in the city and 
is equipped with a pipe organ. Rev. W. A. Schuel- 
lenberger is the pastor. The Presbyterian church 
of which Rev. E. S. Brownlee is now pastor, was 
erected the year preceding that of the Christian 
church, and although not quite so large, is a neat 
and comfortable chiu*ch and substantially built. It 
is located also on Chestnut street on the site of 
the old building, which has been the location of 
the Presbyterian church for more than thirty years. 
It was erected at a cost of $8,000.00. The Episco- 
pal church has been built about seven years and is 
the quaint little structure on College avenue, built 
of stone, from the f|uarries west of the city. It is not 
a large building, and recently regular service 
were suspended on account of its diminished mem- 
bership. The Methodist Episcopal church on Col- 
lege avenue has been built about fourteen years, 
but is modern in arrangement and design. It is 
one of the large churches of the city and has an ex- 



216 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

cellent pipe organ. Their new pastor who has just 
recently arrived in Trenton, is Rev. L. C. Sappen- 
field. This organization also maintains a small 
mission church on Carnes street which is a very 
substantial little structure erected in 1903, out of 
cement blocks. The United Brethren churches are 
not as the name might imply, united in one church, 
but maintain two separate organizations, each witb 
its own church building. The older one located in 
Holt's addition, where the church was first es- 
tablished, growing out of a series of tabernacle 
meetings, held there many years ago. It is known 
as the Holt United Brethren church, out of def- 
erence to Mr. William Holt, whose liberal donation 
made possible the building of the church. The pres- 
ent pastor of both churches isRev. A. C. Tudor. The 
other church was established in connection with 
Avalon College, being a school of the same denom- 
ination. It now occupies a new frame building 
which was erected in 1907. The Catholic church 
is located at the corner of Prospect and Chestnut 
streets. It is a frame structure and the oldest 
church building in the city. The Rev. Father H. B. 
Tierney is the rector. The negro people have two 
churches, the Methodist and Baptist, located in the 
northwest portion of the city and within the past 
few months the re-organized church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter Day Saints has been organized 
with a small following, too small yet to maintain its 
own house of worship. 

There are three excellent banks in Trenton, 
two state and one national. The Trenton National 
Bank, one of the old institutions of the city, is cap- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 217 

italized at $75,000.00 and had on deposit at its last 
statement, June 30th, 1908, $342,626.00. It was or- 
ganized in 1893 by the consolidation of the First 
National and Grundy County National bank. Its 
president, C. A. Hoffman; Vice-president, C. H. 
Cook; Cashier, W. E. Austin, and Assistant Cash- 
ier, W. H. Shanklin, are all bankers of long ex- 
perience and men of sound business ability. The 
The Citizens State Bank grew out of what was 
formerly the old Union Bank at Five Points. It 
is capitalized at $50,000.00 and is operated by the 
following very efficient officers : president, George 
Gilmore; cashier, S. S. Day; assistant cashier, J. 
H. Clawson. The bank by its last statement had on 
deposit $230,000.00 and is in excellent financial 
condition. The Farmers Exchange Bank is the 
youngest bank of the three, having been organized 
in 1904 by the consolidation of the old Farmers Ex- 
change Bank and the American Bank, retaining the 
officers of the latter, and the name of the former. 
It now has a capital of $80,000.00. Its president, 
W. O. Garvin, and cashier, R. J. Green, are men of 
wide banking experience and are well and favor- 
ably known in this community. The bank's last 
statement showed deposits in the sum of $192,424. 
The total bank deposits of the city as thus shown by 
their statements, now amount in the aggregate to 
$765,050.00. 

The city is possessed of a small park, which, 
like the library, was also the gift of one of its public 
spirited citizens, George W. Moberly. It consists 
of a tract of twenty acres near the northwest 
limits of the city. It was conveyed to the city by the 



218 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

deed of Geo. W. Aloberly upon condition that said 
tract of land should be improved and forever used 
as a public park. It was also provided that the 
park should always bear the name of the donor and 
be called Moberly park, the deed also containing a 
provision, that said land might be sold upon a two- 
thirds vote of the citizens of the city but the proceeds 
should be re-invested in a similar park and bear the 
same name. The city has not been able financially 
to improve the park as it should be, and since 1886 
when it was conveyed to the city it has twice been 
sued for failure to improve the park, but each time 
has been successful in the courts. The land today 
is valued at $100.00 per acre and is getting to be a 
valued accjuisition to the city's wealth. 

The city has a better play house than many cities 
of larger size in the state are able boast of. It was 
built in 1886 and remodeled in 1903, and is finished 
in a neat and artistic manner with a seating capa- 
city including the main floor and galleries of loooo 
persons. It is lighted with electricy, steam heated 
and has a slooping floor to the parquet and dress 
circle. W. W. Hubbell, is the owner of the theater 
and also its manager. 

There are three leading hotels in Trenton. The 
Peery is the oldest and is located opposite the court 
house. It is, perhaps, the largest hotel in the city, 
having 30 guest rooms, each eciui])ped with private 
telephone. The Elks hotel is located on the east side 
of Water street in the block adjoining Five Points. 
It is now being remodeled and equipped with mod- 
ern conveniences, including sample room, heating 
plant and other necessary accessories. The Elks 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 219 

Cafe maintained in connection with the hotel en- 
joys the reputation of furnishing good meals with 
excellent service. The latest addition to the hotels 
of the city is the Harber, which is the new three 
story hotel just erected near the Rock Island depot. 
While not as large as the other two, it is complete 
in every particular, having several rooms with bath, 
as well as private telephones. When finished, it 
promises to be the most complete hotel in the city. 

The court house stands on the block 
of ground where the court house has 
stood for sixty-five years. But within the 
last five years a new and commodious three story 
structure has been erected by the people of the 
county, built of alternating courses of smooth and 
rough bedford stone, which makes it a magnificent 
ornament to the south part of the city, in which it 
stands. The County jail which stands north across 
the street was built at the same time and out of the 
same material. The county built these buildings 
at a cost of $60,000.00, which is much less than 
they could be built for at the present time. The 
people of the county promptly responded and carri- 
ed the election to vote the bond issue for these 
buildings at the first election called and they stand 
now as a monument to coming generations of the 
generorisity of the ])eople, who provided so 
well for the county's need. The city hall stands 
one block north of the court house and is a neat 
commodious building in which are located the city 
clerk and collector's offices, the fire department 
and city jail. On the second floor are located the 
police court rooms and the council chamlier. The 



220 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

fire department is composed of a fire chief and a 
volunteer company of 15 men. It is equipped with 
a good fire team, drop harness, an up to date hook 
and ladder wagon and also a hose cart with 2,200 
feet of hose. The fire chief, G. Heinen, takes ex- 
cellent care of his team and they are ready for ac- 
tion at any time of the day or night. The city hall 
was erected about twelve years ago at an expense 
of $10,000.00. 

Trenton is also favored with two trunk line rail- 
roads. The Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City, nuv\ 
owned by the Burlington, which traverses the state 
from east to west, and the Chicago, Rock Island 
& Pacific which runs northeast and southwest. 
Since the Rock Island tracks were laid in 1871, 
Trenton has been the division of the road. It has be- 
come the chief city between Davenport, Iowa, and 
Kansas City, Mo. The Rock Island maintains here 
its machine shops, round house, paint and repair 
shops and freight and passenger depots. 
A superintendent and force of clerks 
and dispatchers handle the office business of the di- 
vision here and all engines and crews, except pas- 
senger brakemen and conductors are changed at 
this point. The Rock Island road employs at Tren- 
ton, 560 men and the monthly payroll of the com- 
pany is $41,000.00. 

The city has a gas and electric plant, known as 
the Citizens Gas & Electric Company. Under the 
new management, the company is furnishing coal 
gas instead of that made from oil products and is ex- 
tending its mains throughout the city. The com- 
pany has also rebuilt its electric machinery and pro- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 221 

vicled same with complete duplicate outfit, to be used 
in case of accident and is furnishing continuous cur- 
rent day and night and supplanting nearly all the 
steam machinery of the city with electric power 
This company also furnishes the street lights 
of the city which burn all night each night in the 
year. 

There are very few cities of the size of Trenton 
that are as well supplied with newspapers. Three 
daily newspapers, each publishing a weekly are 
established here. The Republican-Tribune is the 
oldest paper. It is a consolidation of the Republi- 
can and Tribune, which occurred in 1903. It is one 
of the oldest Republican papers in the state. It is 
edited and published by W. B. Rogers and Son, 
under the firm name of the W. B. Rogers Printing 
Co. It maintains an up-to-date print shop and sep- 
arate job office. The Trenton Times is a Demo- 
cratic paper edited and published by M. G. Kennedy. 
The Trenton News is a young and growing paper 
established in the fall of 1907. It is a Republican 
paper and owned and operated by the News Pub- 
lishing Co., with W. M. Denslow as its editor. It 
has recently added a new linotype to its equipment 
and it ranks with the best newspapers printed in 
this part of the state. 

The Trenton ^Mining Company is the successor 
of the Grundy County Coal Co., which operated two 
mines previously here in Trenton until the coal sup- 
ply of each was exhausted. The new company is in- 
corporated at $30,000; has recently sunk a new 
mine near the northern limits of the city and is now 
minins: the best erade of coal that has vet been dis- 



222 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

covered here. The present mine produces a good 
quahty of engine coal, which is much sought after 
by the raih"oads. 

The Trenton Telephone Company is the name 
of a corporation which started in Trenton in 1895, 
operating eighty-five phones. It has gradually 
developed and grown with the city until it now op- 
erates over two thousand 'j)hones and its plant and 
equipment is valued at $50,000.00. The plant has 
been remodeled and is now modern in every partic- 
ular, and all of its main lines within the city are now 
replaced with cables. The company emplo3^es six- 
teen operators at the central office and about forty 
people in all, including those operating its toll lines. 
Trenton 'phones now have direct connection with 
all the long distance lines throughout the country, 
enabling a subscriber to talk to almost any point 
within the United States from his own office or 
home. 

While Trenton has not yet succeeded in obtain- 
ing from the government a postoffice building, yet 
the bill appropriating $10,000.00 for the site of such 
building has already been passed and it is probable 
that in the very near future a government post of- 
fice building will be erected here. The present post- 
office is the distributing point for large quantities 
of mail. Free delivery was established in this city, 
December i, 1902. Rural free delivery has also 
proved very popular among the farmers and at pres- 
ent there are nine rural carriers carrying mail out of 
Trenton daily. The present postmaster is B. C. 
Nichols and his assistant is J. W. Schooler. 

The Trenton Ice Company is a corporation organ- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 223 

ized in 1905, and manufactures artificial crystal 
ice for the city of Trenton and neighboring cities. 
It is capitalized at $30,000.00 and its busines has 
steadily grown and increased since it was organized. 
The president of the company is H. Wettstein and 
R. J. Martin is its present manager. The wholesale 
business of the company has been keeping the plant 
running the year round, averaging a car a day as 
its output. The Rock Island railroad has just re- 
cently closed a contract with the company whereby 
it takes all the ice used by the railroad on the "SUs- 
souri division, which will keep the plant running at 
its full capacity the entire time. The ice pl:mt is lo- 
cated in the brick building just south of the College 
Avenue viaduct and is the building formerly oc- 
cupied by the axe handle factory. 

Just north of the ice plant stands the Trenton 
Ruskin Canning Factory. This company was or- 
ganganized about 1900 and was one of the several 
institutions established by the Western Co-opera- 
tive Association headed by Walter Vrooman. The 
scheme of Air. Vrooman, which was founded on a 
socialistis basis, failed, but the canning factory sur- 
vived the general dissolution which followed and 
is still running for a period each summer in which 
it cans corn, tomatoes, and other vegetables raised 
by the farmers near Trenton. 

Brick have been made in and about the city of 
Trenton for many years. But the business of mak- 
ing brick and tile in marketable quantities the year 
round was not begun in Trenton until the forma- 
tion of the Trenton Brick and Tile Copany about 
four years ago. The plant of the company is locat- 



224 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ed on the banks of Grand river near the Water 
Street bridge where it is daily turning into brick 
and tile a large bank of shale located there, which 
has developed into material of extraordinary qual- 
ity. The plant is well equipped with a forty-horse 
pov^-er motor and machinery for grinding, dry press- 
ing and burning twenty thousand brick a day. The 
products of the plant include common building 
brick, sidewalk brick, drain tile of various sizes and 
also paving brick which have recently been burned 
and were used exclusively in paving one of the alleys 
in Trenton the past year. The president of the 
company is H. F. Hoffman and the manager of the 
company is G. M. Wolz. 

The poultry plant of Swift & Company at Tren- 
ton is one of the largest and most profitable of the 
company in the entire West. It is looated just 
west of the Rock Island freight depot where it has 
all the necessary track facilities and has now be- 
come one of the most sut)stantiai' enterprises of the 
city. The plant handles practically all of the poultry 
product of Grundy county, as well as many adjoin- 
ing counties. The local plant is the collecting point 
where poultry is dressed, iced and prepared for 
shipment to the New Yory market. The manager 
of the plant is Mr. E. C. Lightner and the phenom- 
enal success and growth of the business is due to 
the energy and experience of ATr. Lightner, who 
is thoroughly familiar with the poultry business 
and has spent a lifetime studying the details of the 
industry. In the single month of December, 1908, 
this plant shipped from Trenton, poultry, including 
chickens, turkeys and other fowls, amounting ia 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 225 

value to over $60,000.00. The plant employs 
thirty men. 

Trenton also has an unique institution known 
as the Missouri Auction School. There are only 
four schools for auctioneers in the United States 
and one of these is located here. It is the only school 
where students are given actual practice at selling 
in real sales of property, along with the theory and 
practice of the work. W. B. Carpenter, its presi- 
dent, is an auctioneer of twelve years practical ex- 
perience and is one of Trenton's substantial cit- 
izens. The school term begins in January and Aug- 
ust of each year and continues for four weeks. Dur- 
ing the last session which has just closed in August^, 
there were 88 pupils enrolled who came from four- 
teen states in the union. 

The Lathrop Sunbonnet Company is the name 
of a new manufacturing establishment, located in 
Trenton, October i, 1907. It is capitalized in the 
sum of $5000.00, and is equipped to manufacture 
all kinds of ladies' sunbonnets. The factory at 
present employs ten machines and fifteen opera- 
tors and is just in its infancy, but is rapidly de- 
veloping into a substantial business and is supply- 
ing- its products to many of the retail dealers, both 
in Trenton and surrounding territory, including the 
western and southern states. The plant was first 
organized and started at Lathrop, Mo., and after 
its removal to Trenton, still retained its former 
name. The manager of the establishment is Mr. R. 
L. Cochran. 

Within the past year, Trenton has had estab- 



226 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

lished in the city, its first wholesale business house, 
\vhich attends strictly to the wholesale trade. The 
Christopher-Thurber Wholesale Grocery Company 
was moved here from Warrensburg, Mo., in the 
spring- of 1908. The business of the company has 
.greatly increased since moving to Trenton, and 
covers a large territory extending over the northern 
part of the state. 

Trenton also has a volunteer company of the 
National Guard, known as Company "D," of the 
National Guard of Missouri. The company has en- 
listed sixty men, and has an armory for regular 
practice, maintained by the United States Govern- 
ment. W. D. Stepp is the Captain of the company. 

During the spring of 190S, the Riverside Coun- 
try Club was organized, composed of one hundred 
anembers from among the citizens of Trenton. The 
(clubhas leased a tract of land just south of the city 
:along Grand River, composed of twenty-three acres, 
for a period of ten years. Upon this property they 
liave erected an artistic log club house and the 
grounds have been laid out for golf links, tennis, 
and other out-door sports. 

Within the past three years the automobile has 
come into use in Trenton, as a permanent passenger 
-vehicle, Dr. J. B. Wright, having brought the first 
one into use which he is using extensively in his 
imedical practice. Other citizens have since follow- 
ed, until there are now many automobiles of var- 
ious sizes owned and used in the city. 

^ The city has for the last three years maintained 
an annual corn show in Trenton, held in October of 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 227 

each year. Prizes are given for the different breeds 
and grades of corn and a great interest is taken by 
the farmers of the county in the growing and se- 
lecting of fine varieties of corn. 

In 1906, Trenton organized a chautauqua as- 
sociation composed of one hundred members and 
has estabhshed the reputation of holding one of 
the best chautauqua meetings in the state. The best 
talent obtainable has been secured for each annual 
program and the association receives the support 
and encouragement of every citizen of Trenton. The 
organization is formed on the guarantee plan in 
which every year each stockholder advances a cer- 
tain per cent of his stock, to be held or returned 
as the case may require. There has never yet been 
a year, but what the entire amount has been return- 
ed to each stockholder, leaving money in the treas- 
ury for the next year, thus demonstrating the suc- 
cessfulness of the enterprise and the hearty support 
which it receives. 

In addition to the chautauqua in the summer 
season, Trenton supports a lecture course during 
the winter months. This lecture course was estab- 
lished in 1904, by the Ministerial Allitnce, an or- 
ganization composed of the local ministers of the 
city. During the past year, this alliance has asso- 
ciated with it, a number of the prominent business 
men of the city, who assist in the management of 
the course and guarantee its financial responsi- 
bility. The course has always received the hearty 
support of Trenton people and has become one of its 
permanent or anizations. 



228 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Trenton has just completed a series of district 
sewers composed of seven districts in all, which 
cover the main parts of the city, including the bus- 
iness and resident districts. The first of these dis- 
tricts was laid out in 1904. In all these districts, 
main sewers together with laterals are constructed 
so that each and every property therein contained 
can be thoroughly sewered by connecting with the 
inlet provided for that purpose. The city is well fa- 
vored with the natural lay of the land for the con- 
struction of these sewers and they are built so that 
they drain toward Muddy creek and Grand river. 
The seven districts have been laid out and sewers 
constructed within them during the last four years 
and the total cost of the improvement thus made has 
amounted to $23,235.34. The sewer system of the 
city, while not among its sightly improvements, 
nevertheless, is at the foundation of all later im- 
provements, and Trenton is fortunate indeed, in 
having the foundation work so thoroughly laid. 

Immediately following the sewering of the city, a 
number of the principal streets have been paved. 
The paving thus far, has all been composed of brick, 
with the exception of one alley now ordered to be 
paved with granitoid. The first job of street paving 
was laid in 1904, and extended on Water street from 
the court house past Five Points to Prospect street. 
The paving was constructed at a cost of $18,263.57, 
and is one of the most substantial jobs of paving in 
the city. In the following year, 1905, North Elm 
street was paved, extending from Prospect street to 
Bridge street. This job of work also included the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 229 

curbing- of the street and was put in at a cost of 
$7967.31 to the property owners. In 1906, the alley 
in the block on the east side of Water street from 
Ballew's lumber yard to the court house was paved 
with vitrified paving brick made by the Trenton 
Brick and Tile Company. The work was done at a 
cost of $2185.33, '^^^ ^^^^ home made brick have 
proved to be thoroughly satisfactory in every par- 
ticular. In 1907, the city council ordered the paving 
and curbing of Chandler street throughout its en- 
tire length from Water street to West Lawn street, 
and for the first time a new company was organized 
in Trenton to handle street paving, which is prob- 
ably the only one of its kind in the state. The com- 
pany is known as the Trenton Manufacturing and 
Construction Company, and was organized by the 
property owners along Chandler street for the pur- 
pose of doing the paving and improving of their 
street themselves. An accurate account of the total 
cost of labor and material is kept by the company 
and at the conclusion of the work, whatever amount 
over this figure is made by the company as profit, is 
returned to the stockholders in the nature 
of a credit on their paving taxbills, thus permit- 
ting the property owners to do their own work of 
paving at the actual cost of material and labor. It 
has proved to be a successful way of handling street 
paving and succeeds in saving the property owners 
from fifteen to twenty-five per cent on the cost of 
their w^ork. The total cost of Chandler street as 
thus paved, amounted to $19,242.54. In 1908, Pros- 
pect street from the Rock Island depot west to Nor- 



230 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ton avenue was paved and curbed, the property 
owners on Prospect street buying up the stock of 
the Trenton Manufacturing and Construction Com- 
pany, and doing their own paving in the same way 
as Chandler street was paved. The work of paving 
and curbing this street has just been completed 
and is pronounced by everyone to be one of the best 
jobs of paving in the city. Tax bills for this work 
are now being issued by the city and the total cost of 
the improvement as thus completed amounts to$i7,- 
099.21. During the present year, 1908, the city has 
just finished paving the small thoroughfare immedi- 
ately west of the Rock Island depot, which connects 
Prospect and Water streets, known as Depot street. 
This is the narrowest and shortest paved street in 
the city, being fifteen feet wide, and one block long. 
The work of paving was completed by a local con- 
tractor, Mr. Benjamin Agee, at a cost of $720.00. 

The city has also within the past few months, or- 
dered the pavement of the alley in block Seven, 
Merrill's First Addition to Trenton, Missouri, to be 
paved with a new material, known as granitoid. 
The work is an experiment and embraces but one 
block. It is also cheaper than regular brick paving 
and if it proves successful, more paving of the 
same kind may be laid later. 

The first water works system was established 
in Trenton in 1886, at which time the city of Tren- 
ton granted a franchise to a private 
company known as the Trenton Water Co., for a 
period of twenty years. During all that period of 
time, the water service was more or less un- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 231 

satisfactory most all the year round, the water being- 
muddy with the exception of a short time each year. 
The company tried many experiments with the wa- 
ter but none of them seemed to prove satisfactory. In 
1906 when the franchise of the company expired, the 
city proceeded to buy the plant of the Trenton Wat- 
er Company. After repeated negotiations, it was 
:ound impossible to make a deal with the president 
of the company, Mr. Herbert N. Smith, of Boston. 
Mass. A board of arbitration was then appointed, 
consisting of Mr. C. A. Hoffman, acting for the 
city, and Mr. H. Wettstein acting for the water 
company. This board assessed the value of the 
plant at $39,000., which was paid by the city and 
the water works system turned over, July 25, 1906. 
Before making this purchase, however, the City of 
Trenton voted $65,000.00 in water works bonds, 
which were issued for this purpose. The remainder 
of this money, after paying the purchase price, is 
to be used to improve and extend the water works 
system, under the management and direction of the 
Board of Public Works. The present membership 
of this board consists of C. A. Hoffman, president, 
C. A. Foster, vice president, E. C. Lightner vSecre- 
tary and S. G. Witten. While this board has the 
supervising control of all water works property, 
the active management and care of the entire plant 
is under the control of Mr. W. Andrews, the super- 
intendent appointed by the board. Mr. Andrews 
was formerly the water supply man for the 
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway at Tren- 
ton, but resigned his position with the railroad and 
took charge of the water plant of the city when it 



232 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

was purchased in July, 1906. Being a man 
thoroughly familiar with all the details of the water 
works business, he has carefully ijone over the en- 
tire plant and remodeled and replaced it where nec- 
essary with new and up to date machinery. He 
also devised a system for clarifying the city water, 
which was taken up and adopted by the board and 
put into operation and now renders the water clear, 
pure and wholesome throughout the entire year, 
•which had not been accomplished before since the 
plant was established. It consists of a large reser- 
voir covering about ten acres with a capacity of 
about 40,000,000 gallons constructed near the pres- 
ent pumping station. \Mien the water is per- 
fectly clear in the river, it is pumped into this 
reservoir until full, which holds enough water to 
supply the city through any ordinary muddy spell. 
The plan is simple enough, but it remained for a 
water expert to put it into practice. The bank of 
the reservoir is lined inside with rock to prevent 
washing. The building of this immense basin re- 
quired five months and was constructed at a cost 
of approximately $5000.00. Since the city has 
taken charge of the plant, 10,000 feet of cast iron 
water pipe have been laid throughout the residence 
district of the city, which have greatly increased 
the efficiency of the water system and added to the 
city's fire protection. 

It will be seen that within the past five years 
there has been spent for the four items of churches, 
sewering, paving and water works within the city 
the sum of $198,713.30, and it is probable that 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 233 

just a beginning has been made. The spirit 
of progress and improvement is awakening 
in every department of the city and the 
probabihties are, that within the next few years, 
Trenton wih be one of the most thoroughly im- 
proved of any city of its size in the state. 




HISTORY OF GRUriDY COUNTY. 235 



CHAPTER XV. 



Biographical Sketches 



"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And never brought to min'? 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And days o' auld lang syne?" 



ROBERT WILEY ALLARDICE was born 
Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, October 12, 1862. 
Kilwinning is one of the oldest towns in Scotland, 
and has helped to make the history of that country. 
It is also known as the home of Scottish Rite Ma- 
sonry, for here is located lodge No. o of that order, 
Edinburg, the capitol, coming next with No. I. 
One mile from Edinburg on the shores of the At- 
lantic ocean, is the largest explosive factory in thft 
world, and more than once the old town has been 
shaken to its very foundation and hundreds of lives 
lost by the explosion, which occurs at all works of 
this kind, either sooner or later. Ten miles south 
from Kilwinning and two miles north of Ayr, the 
county seat, is the cottage, where on January 25, 



:236 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




TRENTON MINING PLANT 

1759, Robert Burns was born. Although this cot- 
tage is modest in appearance and architecture, its 
walls are built of brown sandstone that is taken from 
the hills close by and it is said there is no sandstone 
produced anywhere to ecjual it, and with its white- 
washed walls and thatched roof it looks like it will 
be good for many generations to come. 

Mr. AUardice came to America, landing in 
Pa., in 1881. He worked in the mines of West 
Virginia for a time, coming to Trenton in 1883, 
when he began work for the Trenton ]\Iining Co. 
He was made manager of the company in 1905, and 
since 1908 has been secretary and manager. 

Mr. AUardice was married to Minnie W. 
Myers, in this city, October 20, 1887. They have 
two children, Wm. A., born November 2^, 1889 an'^ 
Minnie May, February 2, 1892. 

A full account of the institution managed by 
Mr. AUardice is given in another part of this vol- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 231 

CHARLES ADDISON, son of Edward and 
Emeline (Leaf) Addison, was born in Macon 
County, Illinois, September 7, 1852. He now lives 
two and a half miles north of Dunlap. His parents 
left Illinois in 1856, coming to Macon county, Mis- 
souri. They came from that county to Grundy in 
1861. 

Mr. Addison was married December 25, 1872, to 
Ellen George. Three children were born to this 
union, two of whom survive. Emma, born Decem- 
ber 13, 1874, and Ethel, born November 2, 1884. 
Elmer, born October 22, 1877, died }^Iarch 12, 1882. 

Mr. Addison was raised on the farm he now 
owns, a beautiful little farm of eighty acres, well 
improved. He has followed farming and stock rais- 
ing for a long time, and for a number of years 
bought and shipped stock extensively. He w^as pro- 
prietor of the Dunlap hotel for two years. 

The father of Air. Addison was born in New 
York, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Emma, the 
elder daughter of Mr. Addison and his estimable 
wife, was married to W. H. Holloway, January i, 
1894. The younger daughter, Ethel, w^as married 
to Lee I. Evans, April 18, 1904. 

Mr. Addison is a Republican and takes an active 
interest in politics. 

GEORGE M. ANDERSON, son of W. C. and 
Mary A. (Myers) Anderson, was born in Liberty 
township, April 23, 1876. After completing a com- 
mon school course he attended the Chillicothe Nor- 



238 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

mal, and Avalon college, Trenton. He was mar- 
ried September 7, 1904. to Miss Osceola Koon. 
Two children have been born to them : P. Crawford, 
July 24, 1905, and Amber L., born January 3, 1907. 
P. Crawford, an unusually bright little boy, died 
after a week's illness, June 29, 1908. 

Mr. Anderson was elected clerk and assessor of 
Myers township in 1903, and made a very popular 
official. He is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. 
O. F. 

Mrs. Anderson is a daughter of Elias B. and 
Nancy R. Koon. Her father died March 7, 1886. 
Her mother still resides on the old home place in 
Myers township, where she has lived since 1870. 
The family came to this county from Virginia. 

Mr. Anderson's farm is located on Gait R. F. D. 
number one. He deals extensively in live stock and 
is a breeder of O. I. C. hogs, having one of the best 
herds of that breed in this part of the state. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 




HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 239 

CHARLES E. BANTA, (deceased), was born 
in Montgomery County, Indiana, September 12, 
1854. His parents were W. R. and Hester (Budd) 
Banta. He was married to Mary R. Metcalf, Sep- 
tember 16, 1875. Nine children were born to this 
union: Ida, August 27, 1876; Eva, November 17, 
1878; Fred, March 27, 1881 ; Maud, December 28, 
1884; Grace, February 17, 1888; Floyd, November 
15, 1891 ; Howard, February 27, 1893; Emmet, De- 
cember 13, 1896; an infant born July 10, 1886, died 
March 14, 1887. 

Mr. Banta was raised on the old Banta farm 
south of Dunlap. He followed farming for awhile, 
then went into the creamery business. He moved 
to Dunlap in April, 1901, and was appointed mail 
•carrier for route one the next year, which position 
he held until his death. 

He was stricken with typhoid fever July 20, 
1908, and died after a lingering illness of five weeks 
•duration. Mr. Banta was an honored member of 
M. W. A., and a good citizen. His remains were 
laid to rest in Rural Dale cemetery, August 26, 
1908. 

MRS. PEARL BANTA, daughter of J. P. and 
Maria (Luke) Cox, was born in this county Octo- 
ber 7, 1880. She now lives at Dunlap, Missouri. 
Miss Cox was married to Fred Banta, September 
5, 1903. They have one child, Maurice Banta. born 
in 1904. 

Mrs. Banta was raised on a farm. She follow- 
•€d school teaching for a number of years, and is in- 
•terested in all educational work. She is at present 



240 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 241 

correspondent for the Yeomen lodge at Dunlap and 
is a member of the Baptist churcli. 

H. J. BAIN, city attorney, is a son of O. G. 
and Rosa (Briinson) Bain. He was born near 
Trenton, Sept. 9, 1879. After graduating in the 
Trenton High school, J\Ir. Bain attended the state 
university, graduating in the law department in 
1901. He was married to Miss Fern Hubbird, June 
1 6th, 1 90S. 

On completing a four years academic course 
Mr. Bain graduated in the law department of the 
university and returned to Trenton in 1901. He 
formed a partnership with his father under the 
firm name of O. G. Bain and Son, in the practice 
of his profession, after his graduation from the 
law school. Mr. Bain is a Republican and takes an 
active interest in politic:^. He was elected city at- 
torney in 1905 after a spectacular campaign, and 
re-elected without opposition in 1907. 

O. G. BAIN, a son of Jesse and Katherine 
(Ogletree) Bain, pioneer settlers of Grundy County 
was born in what is now Lincoln township, a mile 
east of the present site of Tindall, January 4th, 
1 8 so. ^Ir. Bain's father came to this county in 

Mr. Bain received his education in the coun- 
try schools and in the Trenton school. He was 
married to Rosa Brunson, Feb. 14, 1878. They have 
one son, H. J., born Sept. 9th, 1879. Another, El- 
don, was born Sept. i, 1881. 



:~242 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. 

When Mr. Bain, Sr., came to this county, the 
land was not yet oj)en to entry, and the survey 
"\vas just l)eing made. (). Ci. was born on huid 
entered by his father, and hved on that farm until 
twenty-eight years old. lie taugiit school for seven 
years, in the meantime reading law at night, and 
was admitted to the bar while teaching. In 1878 
lie took up the practice of law in Spickard, coming 
to Trenton at the end of two years. He was elected 
prosecuting attorney in 1SS4. After the expiration 
of his term of office he was not again a candidate 
imtil 1890, when he was elected and re-elected in 
i[892. He was for a number of years chairman of 
tthe Republican county central committee. 

Mr. Bain makes a specialty of criminal law. 
Since June, 1901, he has ]:een in partnership with 
^liis son, H. I. Bain. 




EDWARD N, BAKER. 



EDWARD N. BAKER a son of Henry and 
Susie E. Baker, was liorn at Enisburg, Vt., Nov. 
22, 1880. He left that state with his parents when 
3Dut tw^o years old, going to Kansas wdiere he lived 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 243 

until 1890, moving then to Kingfisher, Okla., where 
they Hvcd five years. They then came to Missouri, 
setthng near Holt, where Mr. Baker lived until 1896 
when he came to Trenton and on June 7, 1906, in 
connection with A. L. Broyles, bought the photo- 
graph business belonging to J. A. Alleshouse. A 
few weeks later he bought out his partner's interest 
and has since conducted the business himself with 
great success. 

He was united in marriage January 15, 1907, 
to Miss Blanche Cooper. They have one child, 
Bernie Imogene, born March 14, 1908. 

CLAUDE J. BAIN, son of P. W. and Angeline 
(Linney) Bain, was born on a farm near Tindall, 
October 7, 1872. He lived on the farm for ten 
years, when he came with his parents to Trenton, 
where he has since lived. He went from the Tren- 
ton High school to the Missouri State University. 
He was admitted to the bar in August, 1894, and at 
once took up the practice of law. He was elected 
city attorney of Trenton in 1900, and two years 
later was elected prosecuting attorney of Grundy 
County. He was re-elected to this office in 1904. 
At the expiration of his term he retired to private 
practice. In addition to his law business Mr. Bain 
is also largely interested in the telephone industry 
in Grundy County and North Missouri, being presi- 
dent of the Trenton Telephone Company. 

Mr. Bain was married to Maude L. Gessler, 
June 28, 189S. They have one child, Willard S., 
born October 13, 1900. 



244 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




C. J. BAIN 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 245 

DR. D. T. BAILEY was born in Trenton, 
Dec. i8, 1874. He is a son of the late James M. 
Bailey, one of Trenton's pioneer merchants. \\ ith 
him lives his mother, whose maiden name was 
Dobbins, and who comes of one of the first pioneer 
families. 

Dr. Bailey was married to Miss Emma Kar- 
ner, of Cleveland, Ohio, August i, 1898. They have 
two children; Lucian, born Feb. 23, 1900; and Ken- 
neth K., born June 4th, 1903. 

Dr. Bailey's boyhood was spent in Trenton. 
At sixteen he entered Oberlin College, Ohio, where 
he remained three years, taking academic work. 
Following this he continued his academic work) 
in Chicago University one year, taking up the study 
of medicine later. He also took a course at the 
Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hall, 
Mass., where he became expert in the use of the 
microscope. 

In 1896 Dr. Bailc}' entered the medical de- 
partment of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at 
Cleveland, graduating therefrom in 1900. He then 
took up the practice of his profession in his old 
home, Trenton, wdiere he has since remained. In 
1903 he took a post graduate course in the Post 
Graduate College and Hospital of New York, mak- 
ing a specialty of pathology and surgery. He has 
a well equipped office and keeps in line with the 
progress of his profession. 

Dr. Bailey is a member of various medical and 
fraternal societies, including the Masons, Elks, 
Eagles, Modern Woodmen and Knights and La- 
dies of Securitv. 



246 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




DR. D. T. BAILEY. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 247 

|. C. IjARR is a son of James C. and Lydia 
(Knight) Barr. He was born in Grundy County, 
February 9th, 1864. After completing the common 
school course, he attended the Kirksville Normal. 
Mr. Barr was married to Maude Miller, Sept. 5, 
iS(S(j. Thev have no children. 

He taught school in this county for fifteen: 
years, at Lindley, Laredo, and other places. He 
was clerk and assessor of Marion township from 
1892 to 1896. ]Mr. Barr is an active working Re- 
publican, a party leader, and is the postmaster of 
Laredo which office he has held since 1907. He 
likes a good dog, and has a fine pack of fox hounds.. 
He is a member of the 1. O. O. F., Eagles and M. 
W. A. 

Mr. Barr's parents were among the very early 
settlers of this county. His father was born in 
Ohio in 1822, and died in 1899. His mother, a 
daughter of Samuel Knight, was born in Ohio in 
1837 and died in April, 1902. 

\\'. D. BEXGE, son of Aaron and Elizabeth 
Benge, was born at Centerville, la., March 10, 1877. 
He now^ resides in Trenton, where he has l)een con- 
ducting a meat market lousiness since 1905. 

AJr. Benge was educated in the Trenton 
schools. He married Linnie Thomps(3n, l^ec. 29, 
1902. They ha\-e no children. 

]\Ir. Benge came to Trenton with his parents 
when four vears old. He worked for a time with 
Irvin Dunlap, then with George Owens, then with 
Wm. Dummler, in the meat market business, going" 



248 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

into business for himself Thanksgiving-, 1905. In 
January, 1906, he moved into his present location. 
He keeps six men employed, and has built up an 
extensive business, selling canned goods and bak- 
ers goods as well as meat. 

JAMES N. BENNETT, a son of Natley and 
Evaline Bennett, was 1x)rn in Grundy County, Nov. 
II, 1850. He married Alice Sweetman, March 26, 
1876. They have had six children, four of whom 
died in infancy. Of the other two, Melissa, born 
June 20th, 1878, married Charles Wilson of West 
Plains. Myrtle, born October 29th, 1883, married 
Ray Robbins of west of Spickards. 

Mr. Bennett has lived all his life in Grundy 
County, and has devoted his attention to farming 
and stock raising until recently, when he rented 
his farm west of Spickards and moved to that citv 
where he now lives. 

REV. J. B. BENTON, a Kentuckian by birth, 
is a son of W. T. and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Benton. 
He was born April 29, 1870. He was married to 
Myrtle Cooke, daughter of Hon. W. H. Cooke, 
June 12, 1900. 

Mr. Benton lived on a farm until grown, when 
he went to Bethel College at Russelville, Ky. Here 
he graduated, receiving an A. B. and afterward an 
A. M. degree. The same institution conferred 
upon him the honorary degree of D. D. in 1907, 
after he had come to Trenton. Upon graduating 
from Bethel College in 1896, Mr. Benton spent 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 249 

three years in the Louisville Theological Seminary, 
where he received the degree JNIaster of Theology. 

He was pastor of several country churches 
while a student, and was for five years pastor of 
the Baptist church at Smith's Grove, Ky. While 
Jiere he built a $10,000 church. He was also pastor 
of the church at Adairville, Ky., where he built a 
■$2,000 parsonage. From there he came to Tren- 
ton in 1904. During his pastorate of the Baptist 
church here a fine $25,000 building has been erect- 
ed and nearly three hundred additions have been 
made to the church. 

The children of Rev. and Mrs. Benton are 
_Estella, born June 6, 1902; Wm. Cooke, born April 
15th, 1904; J. B. jr., born Nov. 26, 1906. 

FRED A. BERRY, son of L. C. and Mary L. 
(Wescoat,) Berry, lives in Myers township, five 
miles north of Gait, on R. F. D. route one. He was 
born near his present home, April i, 1S77. His 
education was received in the common schools, in 
the Kirksville State Normal, and Ruskin college, 
at Trenton. 

Mr. Berry was married April i, 1905, to Miss 
Kate B. Best. They have one child, Gerald L., born 
September 7, 1906. Mrs. Berry is a daughter of C. 

B. and Martha Best, two good Grundy County citi- 
-zens. 

Mr. Berry has been engaged in farming and 
-Stock raising all of his life. He now owns a fine 
farm of 120 acres, on one of the beautiful 



250 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUXTY. 

prairies of 3>]}-ers township, well stocked, with a 
modern home and modern improvements. He is a 
good, proi>-re'<sive citizen, a Repuljlican in i)olitics. 

CHARLES O. BRHXXEXwSTUHL is a sou 
of Thomas and Rosa Brennenstnhl. Air. Brennen- 
stuhl, Sr., is a Rock Island enL;ineer. ]\lr. lirennen- 
Stuhl, jr., was born April 13, 1SS4, in 'J'renton. He 
was educated in the city high school. On August 
13, 1908, he was married to Aliss Jeannette Connor, 
formerly of Jamesport. 

Air. Brennenstnhl worked for a time on the 
Rock Island, and for f(^ur years in the employ of 
A\'m. H. Crooks, the grocer, lie was also clerk 
in Dode Smith's restaurant for a year ,when he 
^^•ent into the grocery lousiness in partnership with 
G. J. Beck. In February, 1909, Air. Brennenstuhl 
bought his partner's interest in the store, and since 
that time he has been the sole proprietor. He is 
an energetic and rising young man. 

HERBERT E. B>R(A\'X'S father is L. AI. 
Brown, now of Ciallatin, formerly a banker in this 
city and one of the organizers of the Farmer's Ex- 
change l)ank. Herbert \vas born at Jameson, Sept. 
iS, iS.Sj. He was educated in the public schools 
and in the Alissouri State University. Air. I'rown 
was married to Aiiss I^)lanche Shanklin, of Trenton, 
A lay 10, 1906. 

Air. Brown came with his parents to Trenton 
in 1901. In 1902, on his return from school, he 
went into the hardware business in Trenton, be- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 251 

coming a partner of G. A. Easterday in the Trenton 
Hardware Company. Mr. Brown bought ^Ir. 
Easterday 's interest in the luisiness January i, 1908, 
since which time he has maintained entire control 

of the store. 

HARX'EY BROW NINO is the son of Robert 
and Ehza1)eth (Hedrix) Browning, who are among 
the best and most influential people of Myers town- 
ship. He was born in Myers township, March 2, 
1879. He now hves on R. F. D. numl^er one, four 
miles north of Gak, ^^•here he owns a vcvy produc- 
tive and well stocked httle farm, and a good home. 

]\]r. l]rowning was married March 5, 1902, tO' 
Miss Lizzie C. Briegel. Five children have l^een 
born to them, four of whom are living. They are: 
Floyd H., ])orn Deceml^er 10, 1902; Oral \\'., born 
August 3, 1904; Albert E., born March 17, 1906, 
and Leta, born February 3, 1908. Betha, born 
Fel^ruary 3, 1908, died Fel^ruary 6, of that year. 

^Irs. Browning is of German parentage. Her 
parents, Adam and Louise Briegel, are old and sub- 
stantial citizens of this county. JNIrs. Briegel was 
born and educated in Franklin township, this 
C(mnty. She and her husband are active workers in 
the Christian church and Sunday school. 

'Sir. Ih-owning is a member of the Yeoman 
lodge, Half Rock Homestead 1205. He is a Repub- 
lican ill |)0'itics. 

JUDGE A. H. BURKEHOLDER traces his 
ancestrv back one hundred and fiftv vears and finds 



:252 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

them all Pennsylvanians. Joseph Latshaw Burke- 
holder, his father, was too young to enter the war 
of 1812, and too old for service in the civil war. His 
mother, whose maiden name was Barbara Harmon, 
was born on what later became the famous battle- 
field of Gettysburg. 

Abraham Hudson Burkeholder was born June 
27, 1835, at Dillsburg, York County, Pennsyl- 
vania. At Newport, Pennsylvania, where his par- 
ents had moved in his fourth year, he attended 
common school and at nineteen he began the battle 
of life for himself. He successively became boat 
driver, bowman and steersman on the Jaunita and 
Susquehanna canal. After a few months of this 
work he was taken with malarial fever, from which 
he recovered in about a year and then entered the 
Markleville Normal Institute, where he remained 
until he graduated, receiving second honors in his 
■class. By teaching school and other labors he paid 
for his education and after graduation he took up 
the reading of law. He was admitted to the bar in 
1862. 

On December 25, 1862, he married Miss 
Rebecca Ada Waltner of Putnam County, Ohio. 
Six children were born to them, three of whom died 
in infancy. Those living are : Poe, an employee of 
the Rock Island; Norton, cashier of a bank at 
Spickards; and Bliss, a teacher in the Trenton 
:Schools, 

Judge Burkeholder enlisted for the Union cause 
:in 1863 ^"d served until the end of the war, becom- 
:ing quartermaster for his regiment, the One Hun- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 25S' 

dred and Seventy-Xinth volunteer infantry. At 
the close of the war he came to Trenton and took up 
the practice of law, being elected judge of the pro- 
bate court, and ex-officio member of the county 
court in 1866, on the Republican ticket, serving to 
1870. He was thus president of that court when 
$200,000 bonds were voted and issued for the Q., C. 
& D. railroad, and was to a degree instrumental in 
finally securing the C, R. I. & P. railroad. In 1872 
he was elected prosecuting attorney, he having been 
appointed to this office on the expiration of his 
term as probate judge, and in 1876 state senator. 
As a legislator Judge Burkeholder was an industri- 
ous and influental worker. As soon as 
his term expired he resumed the practice of law. In 
1888 he was presidential elector, and in 1892 he 
was the Republican nominee for congress from this 
district, materially reducing the great Democratic 
majority. 

Air. Burkeholder has always taken an active in- 
terest in everything tending to promote the progress 
of this city and community, taking a prominent part 
in religious and educational as well as political af- 
fairs. He has been a member of the Baptist church 
since 1867, and was one of the board of trustees for 
Grand River college from 1875 to 1886. He has 
served many years on the school board. He has 
been an Odd Fellow for fifty years, and in 1891 was 
one of the degree staff to win a prize offered by the 
sovereign grand lodge. He is also a Mason, and' 
a prominent member of the G. A. R. Mr. Burke- 
holder is actively engaged in office business and 



254 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

doing the work of an office lawyer since he sold his 
law Hbrary five years ago. 

WALTER W. BRUlMMITT was born May 
14th, 1871, five miles south of Trenton. He stayed 
on the farm with his parents until the spring of 
1 89 1, when he went to Portland, Oregon, return- 
ing to Missouri in the spring of 1892. He was mar- 
ried to Loretta Jones, May 29th, 1892. From this 
date until 1898 he lived on the farm. He was ap- 
pointed local agent for the Standard Oil Company 
in 1899, which position he still holds. Since 1898 
Mr. and Mrs. Brummitt have lived in Trenton. Mr. 
and JVIrs. Brummitt have had five children; Charley 
F., Jesse \Y., V^n C, Leon, and L. D. Brummitt. 

FRED C. BURRILL is a son of Stephen and 
Camelia (Conant) Burrill. He was born in Spring- 
field, 111., September 2(;, 1869. He was married to 
Miss Lillie Collier, daughter of Win. Collier, Oct. 
5, 1894. They have three children; Ma1)el C, born 
June I/, 1895; Nellie K., b.orn January 2t^, 1897; 
and Forrest C, born January nth, 1899. 

Mr. Burrill left Illinois with his parents when 
ten years old, coming to Brookfield where they re- 
mained four years, moving from there to Trenton. 
When grown Mr. Biu*rill went to his old home in 
Springfield and worked at the i)rinter's trade, 
going to work for the Republican when sixteen 
years old. On his return from Illinois Mr. Bur- 
rill bought a half interest in the Spickards Gazette 
and was one of the pulilishers of that ])aper for 
two vears. He then came to Trenton and was 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 256 

foreman of the Tribune under C. D. Morris. For 
several years he has been a mail carrier on one of 
the rural routes. 

Mr. and Mrs. Burr ill are members of ithe 
Christian church, and take a very active part in 
church affairs. He is secretary of the rural mail 
carriers organization, an Odd Fellow of high 
■standing, and a member of the M. W. A. 

JAMES BUREN CARNES, one of the 
foremost citizens in the history of Trenton 
Avas born in Daviess county, Missouri, De- 
cember 4, 1846, and died at his home, in 
Trenton, April . 24th, 1908. l^^e was the sol 
of Thomas R. and Anna (Perry) Carnes, a promi- 
nent family in the history of the county. Mr. Carnes 
was married to Miss Laura Austin February 16, 
1875. Seven children were born to them, of whom 
the following six survive : James T., Jewett Norris, 
Austin Kenneth, George Smith, Elizabeth Harber 
Carnes, and ]\Irs. Anna Austin Range, wife of C. E. 
Range. 

During his business career, Mr. Carnes accu- 
muhted considerable property, including Trenton 
and Grundy county real estate, bank stock, and min- 
ing interests in the West. He was reared near 
Edinburg, and educated in Grand River College. 
"The following excerpt from an article printed in 
the Republican-Tribune on the day of his death, 
gives an accurate review of his character and 
career. 

"Few men of IMr. Carnes' prominence in fi- 
nance and public affairs have been so retiring. He 




JAS. B. CARNES. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 25T 

avoided titles or publicity; seldom came before the 
public and was always in the background of the: 
great enterprises he promoted. Though active po- 
litically, he never held nor sought an office. Though? 
a man of large interests, his name seldom appeared! 
in the propaganda of any enterprise. For this reas- 
on his achievements are best known to those closest 
to him, among men who were high up in the world' 
of finance, mining and railroading. He was a life- 
long friend of M. A. Low of Topeka, and was as- 
sociated with him in a number of business enter- 
prises. It was through IMr. Carnes that Mr. Low 
made many investments here, and on his advice 
that he always relied for handling them. For many 
years Mr. Carnes has served as live stock agent for 
the Rock Island Company, a position that kept him 
in active touch w'ith the officials of that rail- 
road, and by whom he was regarded as a man of un- 
usual business capacity. 

He was for years a large stockholder and di- 
rector of the Citizens State Bank, and was one of 
the original Grundy County Coal Company, w^hich 
developed the first mines in Trenton. He was alsos' 
prominent in the afifairs of the local electric light 
company, and furnished n:uch of the capital that 
led to its final development. 

Being a stock raiser himself, and a lifelong- 
buyer and shipper, he was in close touch with the 
farmers and breeders of the county. In addition to 
his other business, he has for years, maintained a- 
local shipping business, the same being now^ run in 
the name of Carnes & Brown. 

General Crowder, formerlv of this count v, in 



258 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

a letter concerning the death of Mr. Carnes, says: 
*'It was indeed a heavy loss to his family, his home 
town and to the state in which he lived. I have al- 
ways had a great respect for the rugged pioneer 
element of our western people which dealt with the 
primitive conditions of life which environed the 
earlier development of the country, helped to battle 
them down, and established the new and better con- 
tions which now exist. There were always a few 
leading spirits in every community upon which pro- 
gress depended. James was conspicuous among 
these, and few, if any, contributed more than he." 

AMLLIAM BENTON CARPENTER is the 
son of Rufus K. and Sarah (Aloore) Carpenter. 
The former was born in Kentucky, the latter in 
Missouri. W. B. was born in Lincoln township, 
Grundy county, November 28, 1869. After fin- 
ishing the public school course he attended the 
Kirksville Normal. On March 26, 1893, he was 
married to Miss Dora M. Fisher of this county. 
They have two cliildren: Bessie Allene, and Marie. 

sir. Carpente-r lived on a farm until 1S8S. He 
then entered the Kirksville Normal. After leav- 
ing school, he taught five terms and then engaged 
in the mercantile business at Half Rock and Dunlap. 
He organized the Dunlap bank and is now president 
of that institution. He is connected with a number 
of mercantile, financial and manufacturing enter- 
prises. For the last ten years he has been an 
auctioneer. 

Mr. Carpenter is tlie founder of the Missouri 
Auction School. It is an unicjue institution, prob- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



259 



ably the most successful of its kind in the world, and 
has the largest enrollment of any school of its kind 
in the United States. It draws students from all 
parts of the Union, and last term had one from 
Scotland. 

Mr. Carpenter is a Republican, a Christian, 
and a member of the K. of P. and Yi. \Y. A. orders. 




JOHN E. CARTER. 

JOHN E. CARTER, county treasurer, w^as 
born in Indiana in 1836 and came to Grundy County 
in 1856. Until the civil war he was a blacksmith. 
He volunteered in King's battalion as musician, and 
was later captain of Company E, Thirtieth E. M. 
M. In 1864 he bought the plant of the Grand River 
News, a weekly publication, which he conducted for 
about six months, then resuming his old trade until 



260 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

1879. After a year's experience as a traveling 
salesman, he became editor of the Trenton Star, 
giving up this position in 1881 on taking office as 
county treasurer, serving two terms. After an in- 
terval spent in the hardware and furniture busi- 
ness, Mr. Carter was elected to the legislature in 
1 89 1 and re-elected in 1893. He was on the clerical 
force of the thirty-eighth general assembly, was 
elected to the legislature in 1900 and 1902 and was 
doorkeeper of the forty-third general assembly. He 
was elected county treasurer in 1904, re-elected in 
1906 and again in 1908. 

Mr. Carter was married in i860 to Miss Alary 
Wethered of near Trenton. They are the parents 
of six children. Mr. Carter has perhaps the widest 
acquaintance in Grundy County of any living man. 
Aside from his newspaper work previously men- 
tioned he has traveled over the county as solic- 
itor and correspondent for the Trenton Republican, 
thus extending his wide acquaintance. He is a 
ready writer as will be seen from his reminiscences 
in another cha])ter of this book. 

\MLLIAM CATE, son of Silas W. and Nancy 
(Self) Cate, was born in Floyd County, Indiana, 
September 30, 1853. He w-as killed in June, 1909, 
by the accidental discharge of a gun. 

Mr. Cate was married to Estella E. Ritchie, Au- 
gust 25, 1878. They have had five children: Roy 
R., born July 2>>, 1879, died July zy, 1880; ]Mary 
B., born February 12, 1881 ; Nora A., born April 
15, 1883; Ruth A., born March 2;^, 1894, and Wil- 
liam C, born December 2/, 1897. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 261 

Mr. Gate was brought up on a farm. He lived 
three years in Iowa and twenty years in Nebraska, 
coming to Missouri j\Iarch i, 1902. He owned a 
well stocked, well improved farm of three hundred 
acres, located near Dunlap. 

Mr. Gate was a gentleman of firm moral con- 
victions, a staunch advocate of temperance. He and 
Mrs. Gate w^ere members of the A. O. U. W., mem- 
bers of the Baptist church and Sunday school work- 
ers. 

GLAUDE GHALFANT, wdio lives on a fine 
160-acre farm in one of the prairies of the eastern 
part of Myers township, was born in Kirksville, 
November 13, 1877. He is the son of Glark and 
Alice (Milstead) Ghalfant. After finishing the 
common school course Mr. Ghalfant took a course 
in Humphreys college. He w^as married to Miss 
Maggie Fisher October 30, 1898. They have three 
children, Glifton, born October 16, 1899; Betha, 
born July 16, 1901, and Helen, born January 2, 
1908. 

Mr. Ghalfant clerked in a store for some time, 
but during the greater part of his life he has been 
engaged in farming. He is a straightforward 
young man, full of push and energy. He is a Re- 
publican, and takes considerable interest in politics. 
Mrs. Ghalfant is the daughter of W. D. and Mary 
Fisher. Her mother belonged to the Haley family, 
one of the oldest and most influential families in the 
country. 

The farm on which Mr. Ghalfant lives is seven 
miles north of Gait, on R. F. D. number one. 



262 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

W. N. COLLEY, is a son of E. W. and Mary 
Colley, the latter being a AlcCulley l^efore her mar- 
riage. Mr. Colley was born at Cambridge, Ohio, 
February it,, 1864; he now lives in Myers town- 
ship. On the 1 6th of September, 1890, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Annie Harris. They have two chil- 
dren, \V. E., born February 24, 1888; and Odessa, 
born December 12, 1893. 

Mr. Colley has spent the greater part of his 
life in farming and stockraising. He is among 
the leading citizens of Myers township, a Demo- 
crat and takes an active interest in politics, being 
one of the leaders of his party in this county. 

LUTHER COLLIER is a son of WilHam and 
Susan Collier, some of Trenton's first and best peo- 
ple. They came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1827^ 
and Luther was born in Fayette, Howard County, 
June 19, 1842. William Collier built Grundy 
County's first court house, a description of which 
is given elsewhere in this book. 

Mr. Collier has been married three tmies. To 
Martha B. Carter, sister of J. E. Carter, March 2y, 
1862, who died in 1878 ; Fannie C. Brawner of Clin- 
ton County, October 29, 1879, who died in 1893; 
Alexia W. Marshall of Clay County, his present 
wife, February 28, 1895. ^'^ children are, Annie 
D. wife of C. M. Brawner of Converse, Missouri; 
Oscar L., of Spokane, Washington; Kitty, wife of 
Charles Mason, Trenton; Jewett of Trenton; 
Luther C, of Colwell, Kansas; Leland H., a medi- 
cal student; Cora B., wife of B. C. Biggerstaff, 
Maryville, Mo. ; Joseph N., stenographer for Rock 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 263 

Island; Susie, in Chicasha, Oklahoma; Woodson 
E. and John W., at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Collier are active members of the 
Christian church, Mr. Collier having been for a 
long time president of the official board. He takes 
great interest in educational affairs, and has for 
fifteen consecutive years been a member of the 
school board. Politically he is a Republican, and 
has for years been an influential factor in local poli- 
tics. 

Air. Collier was a school teacher when the war 
broke out, resigning his position to enlist. He was 
in active service during almost the entire war, tak- 
ing part in a number of engagements, and was with 
Sherman on his march to the sea. Shortly after 
the close of the war he was made deputy clerk, serv- 
ing during the year 1868 after which he began the 
study of law. He opened an office in Trenton for 
the practice of his profession in 1871. He has 
served as justice of the peace, fourteen years as 
clerk and attorney for the city, and one term as 
mayor. For the past five years Lesley P. Robinson 
has been associated with him in the real estate, loan 
and insurance business. Mr. Collier does a great 
deal of work as an abstractor. 

HARDY H. CLOYD was born in Hastings, 
Neb., August 26, 1881. He completed his education 
in the University of Nebraska, taking both techni- 
cal and academic courses. Mr. Cloyd was married 
to Miss Frankie Coon, daughter of Dr. Coon, of 
Trenton, March 15, 1904. 

Mr. Cloyd went from Hastings to St. Edwards 



264 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Neb., when nineteen years old. Before leaving 
lliome he installed at Hastings an electric light plant 
which is still in operation. At St. Edwards, Neb., 
he put in an electric light plant, and at Albion was 
superintendent of the electric light company. He 
.installed plants at Humphreys, Fullerton, Stans- 
.berr}^ Okmulgee and various other places. Mr. 
-Cloyd came to Trenton in 1904 and since that time 
has been manager of the Trenton light and power 
company. 

JOHN COLLINS, the son of Henry and Mary 
Collins, was born in Wayne County, la., March 
23rd, 1 868. He was married to Laura B. Inman of 
Trenton, July 21,1 889. 

Mr. Collins lived in Iowa until seventeen years 
old, W'hen he came to Trenton, which city has since 
been his home. He was for a considerable time 
railroading for the Rock Island and afterwards 
worked in the mills in Trenton. ]\Ir. Collins w^as 
elected night police in 1905, and served tw^o years, 
at the end of which time he was elected marshal. 
He is now serving in the latter capacity, being re- 
elected b}' a large majority in the spring of 1909. 

U. S. COOKSEY, son of J. S. and Mary A. 
(Minor) Cooksey, was born in Saline County, Illi- 
nois, January 23, 1867. He now lives four miles 
west of Gait, on rural route number three. His 
education was completed in the Kirksville State 
Normal, where he completed the two years course. 

Mr. Cooksey w^as married February 22, 1893, 
to Miss Clara B. Babb. They have two children, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 265 

Kclna L., born November i, i<S94, and Roy E., born 
January 20, 1897. 

During his boyhood Mr. Cooksey worked on his 
father's farm, nine miles north of Gak, and in a 
store. Afterwards he attended the Kirksville Nor- 
mal for two years. For a time he ran a flouring 
mill at Gait, Missouri. He has been teaching for a 
number of years, and is one of the county's leading 
teachers. He is a Republican in politics. 

Mrs. Cooksey is the daughter of J. W. and Mary 
A. Babb. Her father is a native of Tennessee, and 
her mother of Kentucky. Both, however, became 
citizens of this county long ago. Mrs. Cooksey is 
a native of Grundy County. Her education w^as 
completed in the Trenton schools. 

DR. DAVID W. COON w^as born in Princeton 
Mercer County, Missouri, September 19, 1854. His 
parents were Stanley W. and Caroline (Wilker- 
son) Coon. He was educated in the Princeton high 
school and studied medicine in Washington Univer- 
sity, graduating in 1891. Dr; Coon was married to 
Maggie E. Lewis, January 22, 1878. To this union 
three children were born, two of whom are living; 
Claud, and Mrs. Frankie Cloyd. 

Dr. Coon lived on a farm until sixteen. From 
1875 to 1884 he was in the drug business at Prince- 
ton, Spickard and Trenton. He was elected treas- 
urer of Grundy County on the Republican ticket in 
1884 and re-elected in 1886. He was in a medical 
college in 1889 to 1891, since which time he has 
practiced his profession. 

Three times since then he has been coroner of 



266 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

the county, city physician four times, and county 
physician twice. He is a member of the Grundy 
County Medical society, of the Missouri State Med- 
ical association, of the American Medical associa- 
tion, and other organizations of his profession. 

J. A. COX, son of Andrew and Katherine Cox, 
was born near Chillicothe, Alo., Feb. 12, 1853. He 
was married to Priscilla Cooper, March zy, 1873. 
They have four children living, and three dead. W. 
A., born January 5, 1874, lives at Leahy, Washing- 
ton; Grace, born Sept 5, 1882, is now Mrs. John 
W. Overton. Sarah Katherine, born October 21, 
1886, lives at home. Arthur J., was born December 
9,1891. Two children died in infancy. Stella Ann, 
wife of Horace Gamble, born April 13, 1878, died 
suddenly of heart failure, at her home in Brookfield, 
April 6th, 1899. 

Mr. Cox lived near Chillicothe for some time, 
where he engaged in farming, and where he also 
owned and operated a coal mine. Selling out, he 
moved to Brookfield where he w^as in the mining 
business a year. Coming to Grundy County in 
1896 he again returned to farming which occupa- 
tion he still follows. He has leased the J. S. Over- 
ton farm of 187 acres seven miles southeast of Tren- 
ton and is an enthusiastic stock raiser. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cox are both active members of the Christian 
church. 

SAMUEL P. COX, Jr., the son of S. P. S. 
and Mary Cox, was born at Gallatin, Mo., March 
15, 1864. On December i6th, 1883, he was married 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 267 

to De Etta Stout, of Gallatin. Mrs. Cox was rear- 
ed in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are the par- 
ents of three children; Claude C, born Nov. 9, 
1884; Frankie A., born May 15, 1888; De Etta, 
born October 11, 1891. Claude, who married Miss 
Alice Dennis, lives at Sapulpa, Okla., and is a con- 
ductor on the Frisco road. 

]\Ir. Cox's father, eighty-tw^o years old, is the 
oldest citizen of Gallatin, and has lived in Missouri 
since 1849. 

Mr. Cox on coming to Trenton entered the em- 
ploy of the Rock Island, first as brakeman and af- 
terwards as conductor, in which capacity he work- 
ed twenty-four years. Mr. Cox has had consider- 
able experience in the hotel business, being at one 
time proprietor of the Perry and at another of the 
Beulah hotel in Trenton. 

LEVI COX was born in Grundy County in 
1864. His parents were J. R. and Malinda (Jack- 
son) Cox. He was married to Alia M. Chase in 
1892. They have no children. 

Mr. Cox spent the earlier part of his life farm- 
ing. He ran a hotel and restaurant at Spickard 
for about a year. For the last seven years he has 
been owner and manager of the Owl restaurant 
near the Rock Island depot and is also proprietor 
of the Eagle hotel. He is a jovial and accommodat- 
ing business man and has a good trade, especially 
with the Rock Island's employees. 

JOHN T. COWHICK was born in Sullivan 
County, within three miles of the Grundy County 




Mr. and Mrs. John T. Cowhick. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 269 

line, November 20, 1839. He has always lived in 
that locality. Mr. Cowhick was married April 29, 
1872, to Emily J. Elwood. Six children were born 
to them; Minnie M., W. J., Colletha, Arthur J., 
Clyde T., and Harry A. Mrs. Cowhick died Janu- 
ary 25, 1895; their daughter Minnie, wife of Rob- 
ert Todd, February 22, 1897; and Harry Cowhick 
died May 10, 1891. 

Mr. Cowhick is a Republican, and was a Union 
soldier. For many years he has been engaged in 
the insurance business in Gait ; he also does consid- 
erable work as a notary public, but his attention is 
given chiefly to his work as pension attorney. Mr. 
Cowhick is a man of temperate habits, and is an en- 
thusiastic meml:)er of the order of A. F. and A. M. 
and of the Eastern Star. 

H. C. CRAWFORD, presiding judge of the 
county court, son of William and Eliza Craw^ford, 
was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 
30, 1839. He came with his parents to Vinton 
County, Ohio, when he was eight years old, and at- 
tended district school in winter and worked on a 
farm in summer. When he was eighteen his par- 
ents moved to Tazewell County, Illinois, thence in 
1857 to Grundy County, Missouri, where Judge 
Crawford has since resided except for the three 
years he served in the Union army. 

Mr. Crawford enlisted March 4, 1862, in Com- 
pany I, of the Third Missouri cavalry, at Chilli- 
cothe. Serving in Arkansas, the Indian Territory; 
and Southwest Missouri, he was transferred to 
Company K, Seventh Missouri cavalry, at Spring- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 271 

field, February 4, 1863, and was mustered out at 
St. Louis, April 11, 1865, as fourth sergeant with 
a detachment of old Company I, of the Third cav- 
alry, consisting of eleven men. After the war he 
returned to Grundy County and went to farming. 

J\lr. Crawford was married Ajarch 25, 1S66, to 
Mary J. Eades, daughter of John \\\ and Frances 
Eades. She was born May 26, 1849, ^^"^ Schuyler 
County, Illinois, and there grew to young woman- 
hood. To this union thirteen children were born, 
ten of whom are now living. Those living are: 
Carrie Ellen, born February 28, 1868; Mary Lizzie, 
July 27, 1870, Elma AHctoria, NovemJ^er 3, 1871; 
Eunice Lillian, April 21, 1873; Lena Maud, Feb- 
ruary 12, 1875; Ulysses G., October 29, 1876; 
George \V., October 20, 1878; Delia Josephine, May 
31, 1 88 1, Beulah Mabel, June 18, 1883, and Henry 
C, Jr., AIay9, 1885. 

]\Ir. Crawford was appointed justice of the 
peace to fill the unexpired term of L. W. Hubbell, 
resigned, August 20, 1881. He was elected to this 
office in ]\Iarcl\, 1883, and re-elected in 1885, 1887 
and 1 8-^-9. He was elected judge of the county court 
for the first district in 1890, re-elected in 1892 and 
1894, and was elected presiding judge in 1898. To 
this office he was re-elected in 1902 and 1906. 

Judge Crawford is a member of Trenton Lodge 
No. Ill, A. F. and A. M., and of Col. Jacob Smith 
Post No. 72, G. A. R. He has a fine farm of 520 
acres in Jackson township. Long official service is 
an indication of the confidence the people of this 
county have in his common sense and integrity, and 



272 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

he holds his present position by their unanimous 
choice. 

ARCHIBALD BOYLES CROOKS, judge of 
the probate court of Grundy County, is of German- 
Irish descent. His parents were Thomas and Han- 
nah (Boyles) Crooks, and he was born in Girard, 
Erie County, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1835, be- 
ing the oldest of a family of twelve children. Eight 
of the family are yet living, the youngest being 
fifty-one years old. Judge Crooks was married to 
Sarah Nation, February 11, 1858. They have two 
children: Herman E., with the Wells-Fargo Ex- 
press company at El Paso, Texas, and William H., 
in the grocery business in the city of Trenton. 

]\Ir. Crooks lived on a farm until twenty, when 
he entered the mercantile business as a clerk, con- 
tinuing in this business as clerk, partner and pro- 
prietor for about twenty years. He came to Tren- 
ton in 1877, from Illinois, where he lived for a num- 
ber of years. 

He was township collector for Trenton town- 
ship eight years, and for the last ten years has been 
probate judge of Grundy County. Pie has been 
a Republican since the birth of the party, casting 
his first ballot for Fremont. 

GEORGE CUTLIP is a son of John S., and 
Margaret Cutlip. He was born in Grundy County, 
December 2nd, 1858. He was married to Maggie 
Beckers September 27th, 1890. They have one 
ch:"ld, Edna, born A.ugust 23rd, 1891. Another, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 273 

Wilson, born August 20th, 1893, died September 
24th, 1898. 

Mr. Cutlip spent his early days on a farm. 
He went from a farm near Laredo to Lyon Coun- 
ty, Kansas, in 1879 and stayed until 1884 when he 
came to Trenton. He entered the grocery business 
in 1885 and sold out in 1902. Mr. Cutlip is a mem- 
ber of the city council. 

J. H. CLAWSON was born in Lindley, and 
reared on a farm near Humphreys, his parents 
moving from Lindley when he was about three years 
old. He studied at home after completing the com- 
mon school course, and attended school at Humph- 
reys college and in the Kirksville normal. Mr. 
Clawson farmed for a time. He has taught a num- 
ber of terms of school, having been principal at 
Newtown and at Humphreys, Sullivan County. He 
was also in the hardware business for a time, a 
member of the firm of Wlialey & Co., of Humph- 
reys. He was traveling salesman for aw^iile, rep- 
resenting the International Harvester Co. two years. 
He began his banking experience at Brimson, 
where he was cashier of the Brimson bank for two 
years, during which time it earned large dividends. 
He has been in his present position of assistant 
cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Trenton, for 
three years. 

j\'r. Clawson takes considerable interest in 
politics, and is an enthusiastic Republican. He act- 
ed as deputy for the treasurer of Sullivan County 
at one time, and in 1903-4 was collector of Bowman 
township, Sullivnn county. He has been a dele- 



274 HIbTOKY Ob' GRUNDf LOlHv^"- 

^•ate to \'arious state and county conventions, but 
never an office seeker. 

Mr. Clawson is an enthusiastic lodge man. He 
is secretary of the Trenton lodge B. P. O. E., a 
Mason of high rank, Past Grand Patron of the O. E. 
S., a past officer of the R. T. J., and a member of 
Ihe M. W. A. ' ■ 

H. L. COCHRAN, who is a son of Hen F. and Julia 
Cochran, was 1)orn on a farm near Lathrop, jXIo.,. 
November 19, 1S70; he w^as educated in the public 
schools of that section and graduated from the 
Lathrop high school. He lived on a farm until 
about grown, and when 18 years of age was ap- 
pointed as a cadet to Annapolis ; he remained there 
two years, but was forced to give up the work on 
account of ill health and his eyes. Soon after his 
return to Missouri, he went to St. Louis and \v:'s 
for several years engaged in tlie manufacture and 
sale of ladies' millhierv goods. In 1905 he sokl 
out his interest there nnd returned to Lathro]) where 
he entered into the sun-bonnet 1,usiness, manufact- 
uring the bonnet invented Iv D. H. Kendell; in 
the fall of 1907 he organized a com])any in Trenton 
for the manufacture of this same bonnet, and he 
was made manager of the company, which place 
he still holds. The company is building up a splen- 
did trade and promises great things for the future. 

Recently Mr. Cochran invented a leveler for 
billiard tables which 1)ids fair to net liim a hand- 
some sum. 

He was married at Plattsburg, Vo., July 4th, 
1898, to Miss JMary Lindsay, a daughter of Major 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 275 

D. H. Lindsay and a sister of the late Dick Lind- 
say, the fanions Washington newspaper man. lo 
this union were born three children ; Lindsay, b«:)rn 
March ii, 1900; Lucy H., born Fel)ruary 8, 1902, 
and Ben F., born March i, 1904. 

\\'. M. DENSLOW is a son of Judge W. V. 
Denslow, a pioneer citizen of this county 
and of Franklin township. Fie was born August 
9, 1858. His education was completed by a course 
in the Trenton high school. Mr. Denslow was mar- 
ried May 22, 1880, to Callie Schooler; they 
have one son, Ray V. Denslow, now associate edi- 
tor of the Trenton Daily News. 

Mr. Denslow took charge of the Spickards 
Gazette in 1888, when it had but twenty-five sub- 
scribers, and conducted the paper for ten years, 
putting it on a paying basis and l^uilding its cir- 
culation up to more than one thousand. He rep- 
resented this county in the state legislature two 
terms, in the 38th and 39th general assemblies. He 
was appointed deputy U. S. revenue collector for 
the first district of Missouri in 1898, and served 
during the continuance of the Spanish war tax. 
Later he was editor and manager of the Macon 
Citizen, a newspaper owned by the late Col. Blees, 
after which he was in the photograph business at 
Macon, until the spring of 1908, when he became 
editor of the Trenton Daily News, moving to this 
city. 

Mr. Denslow is a INIethodist in religion and a 
Republican in politics. 




W. M. DENSLOW. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



277 




J. R. DILLON, sheriff of Grundy county, is a 
son of W. P. and Frances Dillon. He was born in 
Liberty township, February 3, 1856, and lived there 
until taking charge of his present office in 1908. 
Mr. Dillon was married January 2, 1882, to Miss 
Maggie Downing, who died December 10, 1890. 
On the first of May, 1898, he was married to Lillian 
Van Home. 

Mr. Dillon owns a farm near Gait, on which he 
lived until the spring of 1908. Previous to this time 
he had never held a county office. He was appoint- 
ed sheriff by the county court on the death of Sher- 
iff Estes and elected to that office in the fall of 1908, 
coming to his present position at a time when fac- 
tional feeling ran high. He is making a record as an 
impartial, capable, conservative, and vigilant offi- 
cial. 



278 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

AIATHEW L. ELLEGE, son of James H, 
and Alary (Simpson) Elledge, was born on the old 
Elledge homestead, on Aledicine creek, Grmidy 
County, January 5, 1(867. He was married July 7, 
1889, to Aliss Rosa Root. They have one son, Rex 
J., born July 9, 1892. 

Air. Elledge spent the earlier part of his life on 
a farm, moving- to Trenton, where he now lives, in 
1891. Here he worked as a carpenter and cabinet 
maker until 1896, when he entered the employ of 
the Rock Island as carpenter. Tn 1903 he was pro- 
moted to the position of bridge and building fore- 
man. 

Air. Elledge is a member of the Y. W. O. W. 
and past master of the Adasonic lodge. He was a. 
councilman from the Fourth ward in 1904-5. He is a. 
Republican and takes an active part in politics. 

Airs. Elledge is a daughter of Judge and Airs. 
J. \\\ Root of Gait. She takes a very active part in 
church work and is a prominent member of the 
Eastern Star and Women's Relief Corps. For some 
years she has l^een worthy matron of the Eastern. 
Star. 

JUDGE W. E. ELLIOTT, son of Thomas and 
Alargaret Elliott, was born in Alonroe County, 
Ohio, September 11, 1862. He came to Alissouri 
in 1869, with his parents, who settled on a farm 
north of Edinburg. 

Judge Elliott was a student of Grand River col- 
lege, at Edinburg. He taught school in Daviess 
County in 1885. In that year he was married to 
A/iiss Addie Allison, who is a relative of President 



280 



HISTORY CF gru::dy county. 




JUDGE W. E. ELLIOTT. 

McKinley. They have two sons, Louie and Ray- 
mond. In the year 1886 Mr. Elhott was in the em- 
ploy of the C, R. I. & P., with headquarters at Mor- 
ton, Kansas. In 1887 he took up the occupation of 
farming, and now owns a farm north of Edinburg, 
though he hves in Trenton. 

While Judge Elliott is comparatively a new 
man in the county's service, he has long taken an 
active interest in politics and was for some time 
township clerk of Madison township. His first en- 
trance into county politics was in the fall of 1904, 
when he won the race for county judge against one 
of the best and strongest Democrats in the county. 
He was renominated in 1908, without opposition. 

As an official, Judge Elliott is careful and pains- 
taking, and is always willing to hear both sides of 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 281 

a question fairly. Personally he is a quiet, agree- 
able gentleman and has many friends. 

S. A. D. ELMORE was born in Trenton, Mis- 
souri, February 8, 1859. He was educated at the 
Trenton high school and took a course at the Gem 
•City Business College. He w^as married January 4, 
1885, to Susan Kenley,. They have two children, 
Bernice and John Hollis. 

Mr. Elmore was for six years a school teacher. 
He moved to Kansas in 1888, and engaged in 
farming and stock raising. Returning to his first 
love, Grundy county, in 1897, he engaged in the 
lumber business in Gait, where he has been ever 
since. Mr. Elmore is a very successful business 
man and one of the leading citizens of his town. 

JAMES S. ESTES, deceased, was a son of 
James S. and Elizabeth (Hobbs) Estes. His father 
was a prominent man in his generation, and served 
the county as sheriff and in other capacities. Mr. 
Estes was born June 25, 1862, and died March nth, 
1908. He received his education in the Trenton 
schools. He was married to Rachel R. Hargrave, 
September 21, 1885. 

Mr. Estes was elected sheriff of Grundy 
County in November, 1904, and re-elected in 1906. 
Previous to his election to this office he w-as mar- 
shal of the city of Trenton. Prior to this time he 
was in the employ of the Rock Island, and was for 
a time a conductor on that road. Mr. Estes was a 
conscientious official, fearless and painstaking. 
During all of his last term he was in very poor 



282 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

and constantly failing health from consumption, 
of which he died before the expiration of his 
term. He \vas buried in the Alasonic cemetery, 
with official honors, his fellow officials joining 
with the various orders and large concourse of 
friends to assist in the obsequies. ]\Ir. Estes was a 
member of the A. F. & A. Vi., of the ^I. W. A., the 
Eagles, the O. R. C. and other organizations. 

JESSE B. EVANS was born in Putnam Coun- 
ty, Indiana, July 30, i(S_j.i. Fie moved with his par- 
ents to Iowa in 1844 and he was educated in 
the public schools of that state and in Washing- 
ton University, Washington, D. C. 

At the outbreak of the war Air. Evans enlisted 
in the 4th Iowa Infantry under General Dodge, and 
served until the close of the war. He then joined the 
regular army, and was given a clerkship in the War 
Department stationed at Washington. Mr. Evans 
was then a member of Hancock's Corps. He arriv- 
ed in Washington while Lincoln was lying dead, 
and served during the days of the reconstruction, 
remaining in W^ashington five years. 

During this time, Mr. Evans studied law in 
the University in that city. He left Washington in 
1870, coming to Princeton, Mo., where he took up 
the practice of law. He stayed until 1908, when 
he came to Trenton, establishing a real estate and 
loan office in this city. Mr. Evans is the senior 
member of the firm of Evans, Hyde & Lomax, 
known as one of the strongest loan and real estate 
firms in North Alissouri, doing business in several 
counties. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxNTY. 285 

JOHN B., AND SARAH A. FORD were 
married in Grundy County, in the year 1858. The 
former, a son of James H. Ford, a pioneer of Grun- 
dv County, was liorn in Marion County in 1837, and 
came with his parents to Grundy in 1841. ^Irs. 
Ford, whose maiden name was Cooksey, was horn 
in Tndianapohs, Ind., in 1838, moved with her par- 
ents to DeW'itt County, 111., in 1840, lived a short 
time at Kn()x\-ille and came to Grundy County in 
her eighteenth year. ^Ir. and Mrs. Ford lived on 
their Myers township farm until the death of the 
husband, in 1895. To them were born seven chil- 
dren. They are Rachel, wife of John Whan, of 
Sullivan County; Maria, widow of Jacob McGee, 
of the same county; T. B., former superintendent 
of the Trenton schools, now' head of the English 
department of the Alaryville Normal; G. W'., de- 
ceased; Mary, wife of G. T. Jackson, who lives on 
the old homestead; Ella, deceased, wife of G. M. 
Sprout; and J. E.,. of Trenton, with whom his moth- 
er has her home. 

J. E. FORD, the author of this l^ook, was born 
April 5, 1880. He is the youngest son of John B. 
and Sarah (Cooksey) Ford, and a grandson of 
James H. Ford, one of Grundy county's first set- 
tlers. 

He was raised in Medicine brakes, Myers 
township. He has had the ague and the itch and 
is therefore a genuine Missourian. Being born in 
a log house, and having taught country school, 
he is eligible to political preferment. 

Mr. Ford is a graduate of the Kirksville Nor- 




MRS. SARAH A. FORD. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 285' 

mal. and was a student in the State University. 
He was editor and proprietor ol the Gait Herald 
from 1904 to 1906, when he sold the paper and 
went into the real estate business. In 1906 he was 
elected representative on the Republican ticket, 
this being the first time he ever sought office. In 
the fall of 1907, he became editor and publisher of 
the Trenton News, selling the newspaper to a stock 
company in the spring of 1908. He was married 
December 31, 1907, to Miss Grace Humphreys of 
Gait. 

Mr. Ford was re-elected representative of 
Grundy coimty in the November election, 1908. He 
is speaker pro tern of the present (45th) general 
assembly and a member of five committees. Is a 
member of the Christian church ; Past blaster of the 
A. F. & A. M. and a member of the I. O. O. F. 
lodge. 

HARRY FOLKERS is the son of Carl Fol- 
kers, deceased. He was born at Warrensburg, 111. 
Oct. 3, 1885, and now lives on roiTte 6, Trenton, Mo. 
Mr. Folkers is a scientific farmer, and has taken a 
two years course in agriculture in the Illinois state 
university. He was married to Bessie Dickerson, 
Sept 7, 1907. They have one daughter, Georgia 
Helen, born July 12, 1908. 

]Mr. Folkers was born on a farm and has al- 
ways been a farmer. On coming to Grundy County 
he bought Samuel Frederic's eighty acre grain and 
fruit farm, where he now lives. His parents died 
when he was c|uite young, and he was thrown upon 
his own resources at an early age. 




MRS. J. E. FORD. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 287 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Folkers are members of 
the M. E. church. 

CHARLES A. FOSTER, son of Chas. S., and 
INIary C. Foster, was born at Monroe, Wis., Sept. 
13, 1858. He was educated in the pubhc and high 
schools and the state university of Wisconsin. In 
addition to a classical course, he completed a 
course in pharmacy. 

JNIr. Foster was married to Florence Hatha- 
way, of ^Madison, Wisconsin, February 17th, i8.%. 
He moved with his mother to Aladison in 1879. Two 
years later, when he had graduated, he worked 
four years in a store in Madison. Mr. Foster came 
to Trenton in 1885 and bought a drug store con- 
ducted by H. V. Nichols. Mr. Foster kept store 
in the same building twenty-four years, 
or until 1909, when he sold out to E. 
G. Kathan. He has served for a long 
time in the city council, and as secretarv of the 
schoolboard. Mr. Foster is also a breeder of Jersey 
cattle, and conducts a Jersey ice cream factory, 
which has come to be widely known. 

DR. WILLIAM D. FULKERSON was born 
in Grundy County, August 22nd, 1862. He studied 
at Grand River College and other institutions, com- 
pleting his general education at DePauw L'niver- 
sity. Green Castle, Indiana. He graduated from 
the Missouri Medical College, now the medical de- 
partment of the \\'ashington University, St. Louis, 
in 1893, and afterwards took post graduate work in 
Chicaeo. 



288 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Dr. Fulkerson taught country school in his^ 
youth. He began the practice of medicine at Cof- 
feyburg, Mo., remaining there until Jan. 1909, when 
he came to Trenton. He is local surgeon for the 
Rock Island and the O. K. railroads, and a member 
of the pension board. Dr. Fulkerson is president 
of the county medical society, a member of the state- 
medical association, and the American medical as- 
sociation. He does an extensive general practice' 
and makes a specialty of surgery. 

G. W. FORD, deceased, was born December ist,. 
1865. He was a son of J. B. and Sarah Ford. Af- 
ter completing the country school course he studied 
at Humphreys and Harris college, when those in- 
stitutions were thriving, and taught for several 
years in Grundy, Sullivan and Mercer Counties. 
Mr. Ford loved the occupation of farming, and to 
it he gave the major part of his attention. He took 
a keen interest in public and educational affairs, 
and served the public in various capacities, though 
he was never an office seeker. He died of pneu- 
monia in 1907. 

Mr. Ford was married in 1897 to Miss Rosa- 
Browning, daughter of Robert Browning, of this 
county. Four children were born to them: John,. 
Landon, Bertha and Opal. Bertha died in the year 
1903. 

Mrs. Ford and the children live on the farm, 
in the northern part of Myers township. 

J. M. GALLION'S parents are Jacob and 
Maria Gallion, the former of whom is living. He 
was born in Douglas County, 111., September 11, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 289 

1859. Air. Callion was married to Ella M. Fewitt, 
of Jameson, AIo., Dec. 22, 1880. They have had 
three children, only one of which is now living; 
Estella JNI., born Sept. 5, 1881, the wife of Hubert 
B. Wade of Maryville; Lawa-ence B., born June 
17, 1893, died April 29, 1893; and Ethel W., born 
March 22, 1885, died December 10, 1893. 

Mr. Gallion came to Missouri from Illinois 
with his parents when two years old. They lived 
at St. Joseph until 1874 and then at Maryville until 
1874. He worked at various places at his trade 
and served a four years apprenticeship as shoe- 
maker. In 1885 he went to Boston where he took 
a thorough course in shoe manufacturing. He serv- 
ed as foreman for H. H. Tuttle & Co. for eleven 
years, returning to Alaryville in 1896 \^•here he 
started a shop which he kept until 1907, when he 
came to the city of Trenton and went into the 
shoe manufacturing and repairing business in 
wliich he is now occupied in the rooms under the 
post office. 

HENRY M. GILLESPIE, son of Elijah and 
Marian Gillespie was born in Smith County, Va., 
July 12, 1834, where he lived with his parents until 
he was 12 years of age when he emigrated to 
Kentucky where his father purchased a mountain 
farm for 12 1-2 cents per acre. He was united in 
mnrriage to Nancy Eveline Gose of Morgan Coun- 
ty, Ky., with whom he spent fifty-seven years of 
congenial married life. 

Mrs. Gillespie died at Trenton, Mo., January 
2?^, 1908. They were the parents of six children 



290 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

'Only one of whom, Miss Carrie, is now living. Mr. 
Gillespie left Kentucky in 1863 coming to Linn 
County, Mo., where he farmed one year, going on 
to Nemaha county, Neb., where he farmed for sev- 
eral years then went into the livery business in 
Brownsville, Neb., buying a business for $5,000 in 
"67 and selling out for $6,000 in '69 and returned to 
Ivinn county, buying a livery business in Laclede 
where he remained several years, then went to 
Brookfield where he engaged in the mercantile 
business for one year. He there went to Linneus, 
Mo., and embarked in the restaurant business for 
four years, coming from there to Trenton, Mo., in 
1883 where he again engaged in the livery business 
until 1890 when he sold out and commenced the 
manufacture of a proprietary medicine of his own 
compound, known as Gillespies Golden Liniment, 
.a remedy which has grown in popularity and favor 
until it gives him a nice income in his old age. 

CHARLES A. GREENE, superintendent of 
the Trenton schools, was l^orn on a Chariton Coun- 
ty farm, January 10, 1875. He was married to 
Miss Cordelia Hamer, daughter of Samuel Hamer, 
of Cameron, Mo., June 28, 1905. 

At fourteen Prof. Greene attended the Bruns- 
wick High School, going from there to Central Aca- 
demy and from there to Central College, from 
which institution he graduated in 1879, with the Ph 
B degree. He also graduated in the Missouri State 
University, receiving the A B degree in 1900 and 
the A M in 1901. Prof Green specialized in physics 
and pedagogy. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 291 

He began teaching in 1894 as principal of the 
Brunswick high school, and taught for two years 
in that place. Later he taught physical and na- 
tural science in the Carrollton high school for two 
3^ears, and later attended the state university two 
years. Prof. Greene became principal of the 
schools at Armstrong on graduating from the uni- 
versity, from which place he went at the end of 
two years to Bethany, where he was superintendent 
for three years, coming from there to Trenton in 
1906, where he has since been superintendent o£ 
the Trenton schools. 

FRED E. GUILES, son of Hiram and Jajld ' 
Guiles, was born at Rockford, 111., Oct. 2. 1S56. He] 
was married to Carrie Matthew, at Quincy, Feb 
2nd, 1880. They have one child, Goldie B., Ijorn 
Feb. 25, 1885. 

Mr. Guiles spent his early life at Rockford, 
moving with his parents to Sullivan County, Mo., 
in 1868, where his mother died the following year. 
He then went back to Rockford, coming to Trenton 
in 1 88 1. He has worked at the barber trade for 
twelve years, and is conducting a large business 
in that line. 

Mr. Guiles owns a handsome residence prop- 
erty in Trenton, and is interested in different busi- 
ness enterprises. 

GEORGE HALL, is a son of Franklin and 
Eliza (Sharp) Hall. He w^as born at Carmel, 
Hamilton county, Indiana, March 10, 1840. His 
schooling was received at the Danville Academy 



292 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




GEORGE HALL. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 293 

and Chillicothe. He was married April 15, 1869, 
to Rachel A. Smith. They have four children: 
Hallie, wife of E. M. Violette, professor of history 
in the Kirksville Normal; Homer, in the law of- 
fice of his father; Bird Mabel, at home; and Frank, 
now living at Denver, Colorado, in the service of 
the United States government. 

Judge Hall lived on a farm until nineteen years 
old, when he entered school at the Danville Acad- 
emy. He entered the army in 1861 as a private, 
and served three years and ten months. He was 
mustered out a corporal, June 16, 1865. Then he 
began to read law in Indianapolis, and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1867, having taught two terms of 
school in the meantime. After his admission to 
the bar, Mr. Hall came to Springfield, ]\Iissouri, 
and thence to Trenton, where he began the prac- 
tice of his profession. 

Judge Hall was city attorney from 1868 to 
1872, and probate judge from 1872 to 1880. He 
served for many years as regent for the first dis- 
trict Normal school at Kirksville before this county 
was made a part of the Fourth district. Judge Hall 
was president of the Union Bank at one time and 
has taken an active part in the business life of the 
city. He is a charter member of the Colonel Jacob 
Smith Post No. 72, G. A. R., and served one term as 
department commander of the G. A. R. of this state. 
He was grand master of the state I. O. O. F. 1902 
and 1903, and in 1903 and 1904, was grand rep- 
resentative to the sovereign grand lodge of the 
world. In 1880, he was a delegate to the national 





J E. HARTLEY 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 295 

Republican convention at Chicago, and was one of 
the 306 voting for seven days and nights for Grant, 
before Garfield was finally nominated. In 1884, 
Judge Hall was delegate to the Methodist National 
Conference at Philadelphia. He was a member of 
the Trenton school board for years and still takes 
an active interest in the educational, religious, busi- 
ness and political affairs of the county and state. 

J. E. HARTLEY, son of Isaac and Alary 
(Cayhill) Hartley, was born in Ross county, Ohio, 
August II, 1856. He received his education in 
that county, and there he was married the 14th of 
August, 1877, to Miss Margaret Hatfield. They 
have four children: C. F. was born on the 24th of 
March 1879; Minnie May, January 22, 1881 ; Ada 
E., February 15, 1885; and Beatrice V., July 12, 
1886. Mrs. Hartley was born April 7, 1862. 

INIr. Hartley came to this country in 1890, 
from Ohio. He has spent the time since then in 
dairying and stock raising. He has been superin- 
tendent of the county farm for the past six years. 
Mr. Hartley is a Republican in politics, and during 
his residence here has won a high place in the es- 
teem of his neighbors and the confidence of the 
public. 

GEO. A. HENDRICKSON, son of T. J. and 
Sarah Jane Hendrickson, was born on a' farm nine 
miles northeast of Trenton, Grundy county, Missou- 
ri, on the 7th day of October, 1866. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools of Grundy county, 
INIissouri and in the State Normal at Kirksville, 






P 



MRS. J. E. HARTLEY. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 297 

Missouri. He taught school in the Grundy county 
pubHc schools until he decided to take up the minis- 
try, which he did in 1892, moving to Canton, Mo., 
where he remained for four years when he moved 
to Illinois where he remained one year. He then 
moved to Iowa and has occupied some of the best 
pulpits in the state. He won the 1896 gold medal 
in the annual oratorical contest over one among 
the best students ever sent out from that institu- 
tion. Since that time he has been in demand as a 
public and popular speaker on all occasions except 
on the political platform which he has strenuously 
refused to do. On all reform questions he is always 
ready and willing, especially in the temperance re- 
form movement. 

He was married to Miss Hattie S. Smith, 
■daughter of H. H. and Emily Smith, at Trenton, 
Mo., January 27th, 1889. To this union, two chil- 
dren were born, the eldest, Frank Leith, born in 
Grundy county, March 21, 1892; the youngest, a 
daughter, Aneth Pearl, was born in Canton, Mo., 
April 7, 1894. 

Mr. Hendrickson is at present, pastor of the 
Christian church at Bedford, la., and in addition 
to that work, has time for two months a year as 
professor of voice and oratory in the Missouri Auc- 
tion School at Trenton. In connection with this 
work, he is developing into a fine auctioneer in the 
fine stock line. While not a resident now, he is 
•one of us, and always interested in the things that 
.make for the betterment of Grundy county. 



298 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

D. B. HESSENFLOW, son of F. E. and 
Helen (Aiar) Hessenflow, was born in Ringo coun- 
ty, Iowa, October 22, 1862. His present residence 
is two and one half miles southeast of Dunlap. 
Mr. Hessenflow was married to Margaret J. Shep- 
herd, March 8, 1885. They have five children: 
Ohletta, born August 6, 1887; Ezza G., born Feb- 
ruary 9, 1892; James R., born February 7, 1893; 
Gussie E., born March ly, 1895; Anna E., born 
February 6, 1898. Mr. Hessenflow came to this 
county when three years old, and has 
lived on the farm all his life. His 
farm is conveniently located, near church, school 
and market. 

Mrs. Hessenflow is a daughter of Isaac and 
Sarah Shepherd, old citizens of this county. Mr. 
Shepherd died September 22, 1893, and Mrs. Shep- 
herd, June 5, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Hessenflow, Sr., 
have been citizens of this county since 1865. ^^^^^ 
former was born August 6, 1833, and the latter, 
August 22, 1835. 

SAMUEL HILL is the son of Stephen R. and 
Rebecca J. Hill, both of whom died in the year 1889. 
Mr. Hill was born in Morgan county, Ohio, July 14, 
1865. He came with his parents from Ohio in the 
year 1873 ^^''^^ settled in the neighborhood of Rural 
Dale where he lived until 1883. 

He was graduated in the common schools and 
in 1883 entered Grand River College where he 
graduated in the year 1889. 

He was married to Jessie Virginia Peery in 
June, 1889. They have four children; Pauline, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



29!> 





SAMUEL HILL. 



Stephen R., Samuel, jr.; and Richard Peery Hill. 

Mr. Hill read law and was admitted to the bar 
in 1890. He was elected Judge of the Probate 
court in 1890 and served two terms. He was then 
engaged in law and real estate and loan business 
until 1902, when he was elected Recorder of Deeds. 
He is now serving his second term in that office. 

Mr. Hill is considered a shrewd, wide-awake 
politician, and is an excellent public speaker. His 
speeches abound in dry keen wit, and epigram, and 
in forceful logic. His official record is above criti- 
cism. 



300 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

GEORGE H. HUBBELL, prosecuting at- 
torney of Grundy county, was born May 24, 1878. 
He is a grandson of the late Major George H. Hub- 
bell, one of the biggest men intellectually that ever 
lived in the county. The prosecuting attorney is 
himself a big man physically, and not small men- 
tally. He is a good mixer, and in campaigning, has 
many points of resemblance to his noted grand- 
father. 

Mr. Hubbell is a son of Loring G. and Nannie 
M. Hubbell. He graduated at Avalon College in 
the class of 1897; taught school four years, two in 
the county and two as principal of a ward school 
in Trenton. In the meantime he was studying law, 
and resigned his position in the city schools to form 
a law partnership with his brother, Piatt, which 
partnership has proven very successful. He was 
married in October, 1907, to Miss Essie Barnes, of 
Trenton. 

In 1905, ]\Ir. Hubbell made the race for city 
attorney against H. J. Bain, and after a very ex- 
citing campaign, was defeated by five votes. The 
next year he participated in a very warm three- 
cornered fight for the office of prosecuting attor- 
ney, and won by an overwhelming majority 
and w^as re-elected in 1908. He is 

the only Republican in the Hubbell family, his 
brother being now, and his grandfather having 
been a Democratic leader. 

JAMES TAYLOR HUDSON, the son of J. 
M. and Nancy Hudson who were prominent in the 
early annals of the county, was born at the Hudson 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 301 

farm near Half Rock, Oct. 31, 1875. After com- 
pleting a public school course he attended school 
for some time at Avalon College. He was married 
Oct. 16, 1904, to Miss Hallie Hubbell of Trenton, a 
sister of Piatt and George Hubbell. He is Republi- 
can in politics. 

Mr. Hudson lived on the old home farm until 
1900, from that time until 1902 serving as deputy 
county clerk under John Schooler. From 1902 to 
1905 he traveled in the west, especially Colorado 
and Texas. In 1905 he accepted a position as as- 
sistant cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Tren- 
ton, resigning that position to become cashier of an 
Altamont bank. He is at present salesman and 
district manager for a Kansas City hardware 
manufacturing company. Mr. Hudson now lives 
in Altamont. 

U. G. HUMPHREYS is a son of Judge Mar- 
shall Humphreys and Eliza Humphreys. His 
father was very prominent in the county years ago, 
and his mother was a member of the Haley family, 
which was one of the most influential families of 
early times in this and Sullivan Counties. 

Mr. Humphreys was born in i8.36. Pie at- 
tended the Lindley High school, a highly creditable 
institution in its day, and later graduated at the 
Ivirksville State Normal. He also completed a bus- 
iness course at the Gem City Business college. Mr. 
Humphreys was married to ^.'iss i\[attie B. Planna, 
of Kirksville, September 21, 18S7. They have one 
child, Eugene, a gentlemanly young man who grad- 
uated last year, 1908, at the Kirksville Normal. 




Eugene Himphrtjs. 



Hcn.e of U. G. Humphreys. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 303 

Mr. Humphreys was in the mercantile business 
in Gait for five years. Since retiring from that 
business his attention has been given chiefly to the 
management of his fine farm, which extends to the 
suburbs of the city of Gait. Mr. Humphreys handles 
considerable live stock. He is a Republican in poli- 
tics, and all the family are active workers in the M. 
E. church. 

W. H. HUMPHREYS was born at Lindley, Mo., 
December 2nd, i86S. He is a son of Marshall and 
Eliza A. (Haley) Humphreys. He was educated 
in the Gait high school and the Chillicothe Normal. 
He is also a graduate of the American school of 
correspondence, having completed their course in 
architecture and engineering and is a skilled ar- 
chitect. 

Mr. Humphreys was married to Miss Nettie 
A. Cooper, March 7, 1888. They have two chil- 
dren, Grace E., born February 2, 1889, and Wal- 
ter A., born March 24th, 1890. The former was 
married to J. E. Ford, December 31, 1907. 

Mr. Humphreys has real estate and business 
interests in Gait and elsewhere. He devotes the 
greater part of his attention to farming, and stock 
raising. He has a large farm extending from the 
suburbs of Gait southward, and a fine home just 
out side of the city limits. 

Mr. Humphreys is Republican in politics and a 
member of the Masonic lodge at Gait. 

Mrs. Humphreys is the daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. J. A. Cooper, well known in Grundy County. 



304 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



Mr. Cooper died in 1902. Mrs. Cooper lives in 
Gait. 




WILLIAM R. JACIvSON. 



W^ILLI A^I R. JACKSOX, son of William and 
Lyda (Brock) Jackson, was born in London, Laurel 
County, Kentucky, June nth, 1S36. He was mar- 
ried to Julia Williams, from Dublin, Ireland, 1862. 
Eight children were born to them ; G. T., born June 
23rd, 1867; Mary E., born June 15th, 1869; Dora 
A., born August 13th, 1871, who died when six 
years old; Ed L., born May 15th, 1874; William 
W., born September ist, 1876; Robert E., born June 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 305 

22nd, 1878; DolHe, born July 22nd, 1880, died.' 
August 2nd, 1881 ; Mollie, born July 23rd, 1882, 
died August i8th, 1883. Mrs. Jackson died Janu- 
ary 9, 1884. 

William R. Jackson entered the last 160 
acres of land in Grundy county, a tract lying 
about two and one half miles southwest of 
Gait. He bought his present farm of one hundred 
and forty acres about four and one half miles north 
of Gait in the fall of 1867 and has lived on it al- 
most continuously since that date. 

jMr. Jackson enlisted in the Union army August 
1 8th, 1 86 1, and served until August 1865, when he 
was honorably discharged. He was wounded in 
the battle of Shiloh ; fought with Sherman and was 
with him in his march to the sea, and in the latter 
part of the war served as sergeant in Company 
C, 1 8th, jMissouri Vet. Vol. Before the days of 
the railroad he hauled merchandise from Bruns- 
wick to Trenton with an ox team. He is a Republi- 
can in politics. 

WM. W. JACKSON, son of Wm. R. and Julia 
Jackson, was born near Gait, Missouri, not far 
from where he now lives Sept. i, 1876. He was 
married March 17, 1903, to Miss Lettie L. Smith, 
a very popular young school teacher. They have 
one child, Veva. Mr. Jackson is a very successful 
farmer and owns 100 acres 4 miles northwest of 
Gait, and is devoted to his occupation. He is a Re- 
publican in politics. 




MR. AND MRS. W. VV. JACKSON. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 307 

ROBERT F. JACKSON, son of William R., 
and Julia (Williams) Jackson, a good old Grundy 
County family, was born on the Jackson farm four 
and one-half miles northwest of Gait June 22, 1878. 
He now resides near Dunlap. Mr. Jackson was 
married to Miss Allie Bell McAfee January 28th, 
1900. They have two children; Meurl, born Sep- 
tember 20th, 1 90 1, and William Kenneth, born De- 
cember 31th, 1904. 

Mr. Jackson was raised on a farm and spent 
the earlier part of his life in the occupation of farm- 
er and stockraiser. Some years ago he took up the 
work of painting and decorating in which he at 
once achieved success. He is an excellent painter 
and decorator and there is a large demand for his 
services. He is a Republican in politics. 

Mrs. Jackson is a daughter of Robert and Mar- 
garet S. McAfee. Her father was a native of Ken- 
tucky, her mother was born in Iowa. Mr. McAfee 
died January 24th, 1904; Mrs. McAfee died De- 
cember 1 6th, 1907. 

WM. H. JOHNSON was born in Trenton, 
where he now lives, October 8th, 1869. He has 
made this city his home all his life. For ten years 
Mr. Johnson railroaded on the Rock Island, going 
from that position to the night police force, in 1902, 
being appointed by Mayor Wettstein. He also 
served a year as deputy sheriff under the late Sher- 
iff Estes. He is a Republican in politics. 

Mr. Johnson is a carpenter by trade, and is now 
engaged in that profession and conducts a repair 
shop, also performing the duties of night policeman, 



308 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

to which position he was appointed by Mayor Wil- 
liams, 

SAMUEL S. KELSO was born in Grundy 
County, near Tindall, October loth, 1863. He 
lived on a farm until 1884, when he came to Trenton 
and read law with O. G. Bain. He was admitted 
to the bar in 1886, and has continued a general 
law practice since that time. Mr. Kelso was elected 
justice of the peace for Trenton township in 1890, 
and re-elected at the expiration of his term. He 
was elected police judge in 1900, and served 
eight years in that capacity and was re-elected in 
1909. He was also assistant prosecuting attorney 
under O. G. Bain. 

In addition to his law practice Mr. Kelso de- 
votes much of his time to writing fire and tornado 
insurance. 

A. C. KNIGHT is a son of Galeb B. and 
Mary M. Knight. He was born near Dunlap, Feb. 
6th, 1863. He attended the common schools, the 
Trenton High school, and the State University. 
Mr. Knight was married January ist, 1891, to 
Miss Jessie G. Hill. They have three children, 
Martineau, Samuel and Ashley G. 

Mr. Knight was admitted to the bar in 1884, 
and since that time has practiced law. He was 
city attorney from 1885 to 1887, and prosecuting 
attorney from 1887 to 1891. In January 1891 he 
formed a partnership with Col. E. M. Harber, 
which partnership lasted until March ist, 1906. The 
firm of Harber & Knight attained great promin- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 309 

ence throughout the state, each partner thereof 
being inimitable in his way. 

Mr. Knight is a man of brilhant parts, and 
one of the best extemporaneous speakers in the 
land. His quick wit, his ready command of lan- 
guage, and his power of appealing to the sympathies 
as well as to the reason of his hearers, make him a 
power before any audience. While he is an en- 
thusiastic Republican and always takes an interest 
in things political, since the expiration of his sec- 
ond term as prosecuting attorney, he has always 
refused to be a candidate for office, though he is 
well qualified for any position in the state. 

Mr. Knight owns a fine farm, and is widely 
known among stock men as a breeder of Poland 
China hogs. He is also a lover of a good horse 
and a good judge of horse flesh. 

I. F. KOON is a son of Elias B. and Nancy R., 
(Parish) Koon. He was born in Grundy County 
December loth, 1881. He was married to Miss 
Hattie M. Foster December 22nd, 1907. 

Mr. Koon has a good farm of one hundred and 
fifteen acres ten miles east of Spickard, on which 
he lives. He is a wide awake industrious young 
fellow^ a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge and in 
politics is a Democrat. He was elected constable 
of Myers township in 1905 and re-elected in 1907, 
being the present incumbent. 

Mrs. Koon is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. 
Foster of Myers township. 

J. L. LEEPER, son of J. L. and Nancy J., 



810. HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

(Carberry) Leeper, was born in Scotland county. 
Mo., January 27th, 1864. He was married to 
Callie Koon, November 7th, 1886. They have five 
children: Bert A., born August 21st, 1887; Minta 
v., born August 31st, 1890; Lucy M., born August 
loth, 1892; Victor W., born November 12th, 1898;, 
Gilbert H., born March 9th, 1904. 

Mrs. Leeper is the daughter of Elias B. and 
Nancy R. Koon. She was born July 5th, 1867, i^ 
Marion County, West Virginia, but since she was 
three years old she has lived in Grundy County. 

Mr. Leeper lives eight miles east of Spick- 
ard. He has spent the greater part of his life in 
farming, but lived for eight years in Trenton. He 
is a son of a veteran of the Mexican and of the 
Civil wars. The family came to Missouri from 
Indiana. 

W. J. McADAMS, a son of James and Mary 
McAdams, was born in Ontario, Canada, June 13, 
1868. On January ist, 1900, he was married to 
Helen M. Cowden, of Marquette, Michigan. 

Mr. McAdams lived in Ontario until he had 
finished school, then came west to Dakota. He 
started to work in 1888 for the Northern Pacific 
Bridge and Building Department, and remained 
with it until 1890 when he took charge of a bridge 
and building crew. On December 7th, 1903, Mr. 
McAdams entered the service of the Rock Island, 
coming to Trenton where he took the position of 
master carpenter. 

Mr. McAdams is a Mason, an Elk, a member 
of the M . W.A. and a K. T. 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 311 




W. J. McADAMS. 

JACOB W. McGEE was born in Sullivan 
County, Mo., June 19, 1857. He was married Feb- 
ruary 1 2th, 1882, to Miss Maria Ford, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Ford. Seven children were born 
to them. Susie May, born May 3rd, 1883, died 
May 4, 1883; Pearl, born April 25, 1885; Everett, 
born June 20, 1887; Charles T., born August 21, 
1890; Bryant, born Feb. 12, 1893; Sadie, born 
March 21, 1895, and ]\Iary, born June 6, 1898. 

Mr. McGee was a farmer and stock raiser, and 
lived practically all his life on his farm just west 
and north of Osgood. He was interested in the 
milling business for a time previous to his death. 
He died December 21, 1897. 

Since his death Mrs. McGee has managed the 
farm. She is also a director of the Osgood bank. 



312 HISTORY IF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

C. C. MC CALL, son of Sam R. and Martha 
(McCaudles) McCall, was born in Butler County, 
Pennsylvania, December 8, 1846. He was married 
to Margaret Ann Hume, December 8th, 1869. 
They have eight children: Elmina Jane, born 
April 5th, 1871; Oliver C, born May i6th, 1873; 
Nina Maude, born May 23rd, 1875; Flossie May, 
born May 25th, 1877; Nova J., born August 24th, 
1879; Vada Linn., born October 12th, 1881 ; Mary 
Helen, born September 15, 1886. A babe born 
April 23rd, 1888, died May 8th, of that year. 

Mr. McCall has a one hundred and twenty 
acre farm and a good home on rural route number 
one, northwest of Gait. Two of the children, Misses 
May and Helen, are still at home with their par- 
ents. 

Mrs. McCall has a number of interesting cur- 
ios and relics. Among them is a postal card to her 
father from a fraternal order notifying him of his 
election to membership in that order written at 
Glasgow, Scotland, September 26, 1807. She 
has a chiffonier one hundred and twenty-five years 
old, still in good condition, being of the best of nia- 
terial and unexcelled workmanship. She has a 
coffee mill sixty-eight years old still in use, and a 
snuff box ninety years old. All of these articles 
came from Scotland and formerly belonged to her 
ancestors. 

Mr. McCall has been an Odd Fellow for 
twenty-nine years. He enlisted in Company A.,. 
Thirty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry January 28, 
1863 ' ^^^ served until the close of the war, being with 
Sherman on his march to the sea, and was honor- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 313 

ably discharged in July 1865. 

JAMES McCOWN, a son of Wm. H. and 
Delia A. McCovvn, was born at West Plains, Mo., 
July 2, 1873. He was educated at Christian Broth- 
ers College, St. Louis. Mr. McCown was married 
to Margaret Smith, of Dayton, Ohio, March 12, 

1905- 

After leaving school Mr. McCown spent a few 

years in Montana. He then went into the candy 
business at Springfield, Mo. Selling out at Spring- 
field, he went to Kansas City, where he was engag- 
ed in the grocery and hotel business. He was dur- 
ing this time assistant custodian of public property. 
Mr. McCown went from Kansas City into the hot^^' 
and restaurant business in Chicago, where he re- 
mained four years, coming from there to Trenton 
in March, 1907, when he was managers of the Elks 
cafe until August, 1908, at which time he bought 
the Elks hotel. The hotel is thoroughly modern, 
with steam heat, private and long distance telephone 
and other modern conveniences. It has thirty-three 
rooms and is conducted on the European plan. 

DR. C. L. McCLANAHAN, son of R. B. and 
Nancy (Triplett) McClanahan, was born in Sulli- 
van County, October 29th, 1874. He now resides 
at Half Rock, across the Grundy County line in the 
edge of Mercer County, but has a large practice 
in Grundy County. Dr. McClanahan was married 
to Miss Ruth Cooper December 26th, 1900. They 
have four children; Robert C, born January i6th, 
1902; Lois Edalyn, born April 25th, 1903; Amber 



314 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Ruth, born December 3rd, 1904; and Jean Rose- 
mond, born June 14th, 1906. 

Dr. AlcClanahan attended school at the ChilH- 
cothe Normal, Harris College, and the Keokuk 
(Iowa) College of Physicians and Surgeons. The 
latter is one of the oldest medical colleges west of 
the Mississippi river. Dr. McClanahan graduated 
from medical college in 1898. Since that time he 
has been engaged in the practice of his profession, 
and has a large practice in Grundy and Mercer 
Counties. His early life was spent on a farm. 

Politically Dr. McClanahan favors the Demo- 
cratic party. 

JUDGE W. A. McCRACKEN was born in 
Carroll County, Kentucky, September 3rd, 1848. 
His parents were John A. and Catherine McCrack- 
en. Mr. McCracken came to this state with his 
parents when quite young, lived for ten years in 
Putnam and for some time in Sullivan and Mercer 
Counties. Mr. McCracken completed his school 
life at the Chillicothe Seminary. He was married 
December 21, 1868, to Miss Annie M. Ford, daugh- 
ter of James H. Ford, of Myers township. They 
have two children living, James A., and Pearl, wife 
of Ed Smith of Jamesport, Mo. 

Mr. McCracken lived for many years on a 
farm in Myers township. He was elected judge 
of the county court for the Second district in 1896. 
In 1892, w4ien the Gait State Bank was organized, 
he became its first cashier, which position, with 
the exception of a few months in 1906, he has held 
ever since. Judge McCracken has always been a 
strong Republican and before his election as County 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 315 

Judge he often held township offices. Since be- 
coming cashier of the Gait State Bank he has not 
been active in politics. 

IRA W. McRAE was born at New Middleton, 
Indiana, August 9, 1859. He attended high school 
at Muncie, Ind. Coming to Missouri in 1879, he 
located in Adair County, where he taught school 
for a number of years, joining the annual confer- 
ence in 1884 and engaging in the ministry, in which 
work he continued until 1898, when he entered the 
American School of Osteopathy, graduating there- 
from in 1900. He located in Trenton in July, 1900, 
for the practice of osteopathy, and has since lived 
here. 

Dr. McRae was married to Elizabeth C. Van- 
sickle, Julv 2, 1882. To them eight children were 
born: Roy G. ^NlcRae, aged 25; Ora Willis, died 
at the age of 19; Mary E., age 19; Harrison I., age 
16; Rosie E., age 14; Grace P., age 7; Still McRae, 
and a daughter died in infancy. 

A\'m. A. McRae, father of Ira W. McRae, was 
born in 1833 at New Middleton, Indiana, and died 
Dec. 24, 1862. He was married to Priscilla Mc- 
Caudles, in 1858. The latter, who was born in 
Pennsylvania, in 1838, is still living in Adair Coun- 
ty, Mo. 

Elizaljeth C. (Vansickle) McRae was born in 
Adair County, January i, 1864. Her father, Gab- 
riel Vansickle, was born in Ohio in 1830. Her 
mother, Elizabeth (Sanders) Vansickle, was born 
in 1834. They were married in 1857, and moved 
to Adair County, where they now live, in 1858, 



316 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




DR. IRA W. McRAE. 



FRANCIS MARION MADDEN, ex-mayor of 
the city of Trenton, judge of the county court, and 
a man who has been, to a large degree, instru- 
mental in moulding the city of Trenton into its pres- 
ent municipal excellence and industrial prosperity, 
was born at \\'alton, Indiana, May i8, 1846. He 
was educated at Grand River college, Edinburg, 
having come to this county with his parents in 1865. 
Mr. Madden was married March 24, 1870, to Eliza 
Mitchell, who died June 22, 1907. They have two 
children, Viola E., wife of Rev. W. H. Owen, and 
Leona L., wife of C. E. Holtz. 

Mr. Madden's father, Julian Madden, was born 
in Kentucky in 1819. His mother, Jemima Julian 
was born in Indiana. Mr. Madden is one of a family 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 317 

of ten children, eight of whom Hved to be grown. 
His father died in 1872 and his mother in 1877. 
Only three of the children are now living, F. M. of 
this city, W. P. of Oklahoma, and Dr. J. H., of 
Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

For a number of years Mr. Madden devoted his 
attention to farming. He left the farm and came to 
Trenton in 1893. In 1S9S he w^as elected to the city 
council where he served tw^o consecutive terms. At 
the close of his second term he w^as appointed by 
Governor Dockery as a member of the county court, 
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge 
A. J. Dix. He served the remainder of this unex- 
pired term, and was elected to succeed himself in 
1903. 

During this period there came before the court 
perhaps the greatest undertaking it has yet accom- 
plished, the planning and erecting of the present 
court house and jail. Judge Madden devoted his 
entire energy to the work and spared no pains to 
secure for the people of the county the very best 
building that could be built for the money. 

From the county court he was elected mayor of 
the city of Trenton in 1905, in which capacity he 
served until 1907. 

No sooner had he been installed in office than 
notice was served on every saloon keeper that ex- 
act obedience of the law w^ould be required. And 
in compliance with the request, every saloon in the 
city closed on Sunday and opened up its curtains 
to the public. 

The water works franchise under which the 
city had operated for twenty years expired the first 




FRANCIS MARION MADDEN. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 319 

year of his administration. During the negotia- 
tions which followed, the city voted a bond issue of 
$65,000 with which to buy the old plant and re- 
organize and improve it and now has one of the best 
plants in the state. 

But aside from all else, Mayor Madden's admin- 
istration stands out most prominent as marking the 
beginning of an era of public improvement in the 
city. A thorough system of district sewers em- 
bracing six districts was established with more than 
six miles of pipe line, besides pavement was laid 
on some of the principal streets of the city and many 
miles of sidewalk were built. 

JOSEPH MARTIN, son of James and Mar- 
garet (lUiff Martin, was born in Decatur county, 
Indiana, May 13th, 1840. He was married Decem- 
ber 1st, 1869, to Sabina P. Browning. Seven chil- 
dren were born to them: Loring H., born Novem- 
ber 24th, 1872; Emma A., born February 14th, 
1875, died January 31st, 1876; Lucie B., born July 
6th, 1877, died April 4th, 1881 ; Marvin A., born 
October 27th, 1879, died March i6th, 1881 ; C. 
Sidney, born November 3rd, 1882; A. Bruce, born 
June 22nd, 1888, died May 30th, 1903; Winnie B., 
born April 9th, 1893. 

Mr. Martin is in the employ of the Q. O. & K. 
C. railroad. Mrs, INIartin is a daughter of John M. 
Browning, who was born January 14th, 1823 and 
died March 5th, 1867. Her mother, Jane McB. 
(Ewing) Browning who was born August 28th, 
1821, lived with Mrs. Martin until her death. She 
lived to be one of the oldest residents of Grundy 



320 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

County, dying in her 89th year. Sidney Martin 

was married to Miss Glenna Gibson October 23rd, 

1905. 

her 89th year. Sidney Martin was married to Miss 

Glenna Gibson October 23rd, 1905. 

Mr. Martin spent a number of years farming 
then engaged in milHng. He enhsted in the Union 
army September ist, 1861, for a period of six 
months. September 26th, 1862, he enhsted in the 
23rd Missouri, w^iere he served until the close of the 
war. In politics he is a Republican. He came to 
Missouri in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have lived 
in Gait for twenty-five years. 

GEORGE E. MARTIN was born at Newtown, 
Sullivan County, Mo., Nov. 10, 1868. He is a son 
of the late E. B. Martin and Martha A. Martin of 
Trenton. He completed his school work with a 
course in Grand River College at Edinburg in 
1893 and after graduating he taught several terms 
of school. He was married March 22, 1899, to 
Miss Nellie ]\lcHargue at Edinburg, Mo., a mem- 
ber of an old pioneer family. They have one child, 
Marie, born Feb. 20, 1900. 

Mr. Martin when cjuite small moved with his 
parents to Breckenridge, then to Daviess county on 
a farm in 1879. He came to Grundy County in 
1899 and settled on a farm near Jamesport where 
he remained until September, 1900, when he moved 
to Trenton where his home has since been. He 
has been an employe of the Rock Island for a num- 
ber of years; has traveled considerably; is a mem- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 321 

ber of the B. R. C. of A. and the M. W. A. He takes 
an active part in public affairs and is a Democrat 
in politics. 

JOSHUA MARTIN son of James and Mar- 
garet (IHff) Alartin, was born in Decatur county 
Indiana, June 3rd, 1842. He has hved in Laredo, 
about twelve years. December 27, 1863, he was 
married to Judith A. Ford. Four children were 
born to them. Annie, born December 23, 1864^ 
died March 21, 1891 ; Floy B., born June 3, 1871,, 
died August 9, 1872; Florence, born September 22^ 
1873, died August 27, 1874; James N., born Feb. 
14, 1880, was married to Miss Ethel Linderman, 
of Kansas City, October 16, 1906. He is in the 
employ of the Milwaukee road. 

]\Ir. Alartin spent the greater part of his life 
farming and stock raising. He later engaged in 
the milling business at Gait and has for some time 
been connected with a livery business. He is an 
old soldier and a Republican in politics. 

]\Irs. Martin is a daughter of James H. Ford^ 
formerly of Myers township. 

E. J. MOBERLY is a son of L. W. and Mary 
(Sprout) Moberly. He was born in Sullivan 
County, May 27th, 1881. He was married on the 
sixteenth of February, 1905, to Miss Ella Limes, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Limes, one of 
Grundy County's best old families. They have one 
child, Harry, born January 4th, 1906. 

Mr. Moberly was raised on a farm in Sullivan 
County. He came to this county in 1901, and locat- 



322 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ed on the two hundred acre farm he now owns. He 
is a young man of sterhng quahties and of excellent 
business abilities, and is making a decided success 
financially. Politically Mr. Moberly favors the 
Republican party. 

W. M. MORRIS, County Clerk, was born in 
Zanesville, O., Nov. 3. 1859. He came with his par- 
ents, Richard E. and Sophia (McNutt) Morris to 
Missouri in 1877. His education was completed at 
the Kirksville Normal. He was married to Miss 
Rosa F. Ralls of Gait, July 15, 1900. They have 
one son, Victor G., three years old. Mr. Morris 
has been farmer, merchant, teacher, traveling sales- 
man and county official. For quite a number of 
years he lived in Gait where he w^as engaged in the 
mercantile business. He was elected County 
Treasurer in 1897, serving till 1901. When his 
term of office expired he worked as traveling sales- 
man until he was elected to the office he now holds, 
in 1906. He is a Republican. 

HARRY R. MORRIS, son of Richard E., and 
Sophia Morris, was born in Delavan, 111., Feb. 17, 
1869. He w^as married to Carrie M. Collins, of 
Gait, August 16, 1890. They have five children: 
Addie L., Carl R., Thomas Byron, Fern E., and 
William E., an unusually bright and promising 
family. 

Mr. Morris moved from Illinois to Missouri, 
with his parents, in 1877. He was a farmer for 
some time, moving from the farm to Gait, where 
he was engaged in the mercantile business for 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 323 

twenty years, retiring from that to accept the posi- 
tion he now holds as deputy county clerk. During 
his residence in Gait Mr. Morris was active in edu- 
cational matters, serving a good while as a member 
of the school board. Politically he is a sterling 
republican, and though he has never sought a 
county office he has taken active part in local poli- 
tics and has served as township trustee. 

A. T. MYERS, son of Milton J. and Margaret 
Myers, was born in Myers township September 14, 
1869. He was married February 14, 1894, to Miss 
Tina Monk. They have one child, Ada, born in 
1896. 

Mr. Myers comes from an old pioneer family, 
one of the first to settle in the northeastern part of 
the county. For them M}^ers township was named. 
The earlier part of his life was spent in farming. 
Later he moved to Trenton, and he is now proprietor 
of the Eagle saloon. 

E. L. MASON was born in Hiram, Ohio, in 
1837. He now resides on route six, Trenton Mo. 
Mr. Mason was married to t.n'eroy E. H^odley 
September 18, 1861. They had one child. Alice M., 
born Feb. 3, 1864. Mrs. Mason died Oct. 21, 1879. 

Mr. Mason was raised on a farm. When twenty 
years old he worked in the store of Prentiss and 
Hopkins of Ravenna. Ohio, where he remained un- 
til the store was burned and soon after went to 
Memphis, Tenn. This was soon after [ohn P>rown 
had been hung and a very l)itter feeting existed to- 
wards men from the north. From Memphis he 



324 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 325 

went to Jefferson County, Mo., where he had ac- 
quaintance and from there returned to Hiram, Ohio. 
When the war broke out he enhsted in the 42nd 
O. \\ I. under Garfield and served sixteen months 
when he was discharged on account of sickness. Af- 
ter he had regained his heaUh somewhat he went 
into the store of H. and S. S. Beecher of Garretts- 
ville, Ohio, where he remained some eighteen 
months and then accepted a position in the comissary 
department. This took him to various points in 
the south but mainly in Texas, where the army was 
retained months after the real war was over. From 
Texas he came to Trenton, Mo., arriving towards 
the close of the year of 1865. 

Soon after his arrival here Mr. Mason en- 
gaged in the nursery business locating first some 
five miles east of Trenton and later where the pres- 
sent coal mine is located. After being in this busi- 
ness a number of years Mr. Mason went into the 
Rock Island freight office where he remained some 
twelve years and then engaged again in the nursery 
business mainly on his present place. Mr. Mason 
and his daughter, Alice, are members of the Presby- 
terian church. 

B. C. NICHOLS is a son of Ben and Anna 
(Huston) Nichols. He was born in Grundy County, 
Nov. 22, 1844. Mr. Nichols was married to Laura 
Yakey. 

Mr. Nichols spent his early life on a farm. He 
unlisted in the Union cause in 1863, joining the 
44th Missouri Infantry, with which regiment he 
served until the close of the war. He was pro- 



326 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY. 

moted to the rank of sergeant for gallantry in ac- 
tion at the l)attle of Franklin, Tenn. After the 
close of the war Mr. Nichols returned to Trenton, 
where he attended school and worked in a store. 
Since that time he has l^een interested in the mer- 
cantile husiness. For ten years from 1880 Mr. 
Nichols was a memher of the firm of B. C. Nichols 
& Co., dealers in shoes. This firm was succeeded 
by Boyce, Nichols & Patterson. This in turn gave 
way to the firm of Patterson & Nichols, the latter 
firm selling out the shoe store to Robertscm Bros. 
in 1908. Messrs Patterson & Nichols then bought 
the store of T. H. Rader, consisting of men's fur- 
nishing goods. 

^fr. Nichols was appointed postmaster of 
Trenton in 1905, and re-appointed in 1909. He has 
long been prominent in G. A. R. circles, and poli- 
tically is an active Re]mblican. He has attended 
every national encampment of the G. A. R. for 
twenty-five years. At the encampment at Toledo, 
1909, he was made aide de camp for the commander 
in chief. 

M. N1CH(3LS was born in Syria, June 15, 1870 
He lived in Syria until October 21, 1891, when he 
came to New York. He stayed here two months 
then went to Kansas City where he remained three 
years. From Kansas City he went to Linn Coun- 
ty, where he went into the mercantile business. He 
next moved to Lexington, Mo., then to Trenton 
in 1899. In 1902 he went to St. Jose]:)h where he 
stayed until 1905, at which time he returned to 
Trenton and opened a store which he now owns 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



327 



and nianai>-es. Mr. Nichols deals in o-roceries and 
general merchandise, and is located at the corner 
of Elm and Prospect streets. 

He was married Xoveml)er 26, ICS99, to Mary 
Carter. They have two children; Elias, born Oct. 
I 1890, and Elizabeth, born August 17, upi- Mr. 
Nichols's first wife died just before he lett Syria. 

ALISON NICHOLAS, son of George and 
Josephine Nicholas, was born in Howell County, 
Dec. 2S, 1^72. He was educated in the public 
schools and in the state university. 

Mr. Nicholas lived in Howell County until 
nineteen years old, when he went to Bethany.^ He 
taught school four years, then worked in T.^ B. 
Sherer's drug store five years beginning in 1S96. 
He came to Trenton and began work for B. J. Mc- 
Guire in 1901. In 1903 he bought the Co-op drug 
store, which he has enlarged and improved up to 
the ]:)resent time. 

Mr. Nicholas is a registered pharmacist. He 
is a member of the K. of P., having held the office 
of IMaster of Finance for three years, and is a 
Mason and Knight Templar. 

E. J. NICCUM, son of Jesse and Anna Nic- 
cum, was born at Newtown, Mo.,. June 15, 1876. 
He was married to Maggie Mayers, of Trenton, 
March 2H, 1901. They have one child, Ray W., 
born April 12, 1902. 

Mr. Niccum lived on the farm until grown, 
then went to Newtown where he remained three 
years. At the end of that time he went to Wyom- 



328 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ing, where he worked at the barber trade, as at 
Newtown, until 1899, when he returned to Mis- 
souri, and moved to Trenton. For a years after his 
arrival he worked at the barber trade, going from 
that work to the Rock Island train service, remain- 
ing four years as brakeman and four as conductor. 
In 1908 he went on the road as traveling salesman. 

J. F. ORCHARDS was born in Des Moines 
County, la.. May 7, 1861. At twenty-three years 
of age he was married to Belle Phillips, of Fair- 
field, la. They have three children, Flossie, Lester, 
and Ethel. 

Mr. Orchards lived in Iowa until of age. He 
then went to Nebraska, where he was in the mer- 
cantile business a short time. Returning to Iowa, 
he engaged in farming for seven years, when he 
moved to Trenton. He spent four years with the 
Witten Hardware Company, then was appointed 
deputy sheriff and is now special officer for the 
Rock Island. 

GEORGE BURREL PADGET is the son of 
Joab and Elizabeth A. (Chapman) Padget of 
Spickard. He was born in Wayne County, la., Jan. 
12, 1886, and educated in the public schools. June 
29, 1887, he was married to Miss Emma M. Howe, 
daughter of Ransom B. and Rebecca A. Howe, of 
Spickard. They have two children : Judson F., born 
May 22, 1888, and Mabel A., born September 16, 
1889. 

Mr. Padget came to this county with his par- 
ents when a boy, and lived five years in the east- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 329 




GEO. B. PADGET 

ern part of the county. He spent two years in 
Kansas and one summer in Iowa, when he returned 
to Missouri and quit the farm for the barber busi- 
ness at the age of twenty years. 

With the exception of one year spent at Harris, 
and one month at Newtown he has made his home 
at Spickard since that time. 

Mr. Padget studied law while working at his 
trade, and was admitted to the bar on the 12th day 
of June, 1901. He does a general law practice in 
addition to his work as a barber. He was the can- 
didate of the Democratic party for prosecuting 
attorney in 1904, and is now and for several years 
has been city attorney for the city of Spickardsville. 
Mr. Padget's father, Rev. Joab Padget, is widely 
known in this part of the state, being one of the 
pioneer ministers of the Christian church. He has 



330 HISTORY OF GRUND/ COuNTY. 

preached for many years in various sections of this 
and other counties, as well as in other states. 

CiiARLES A. PENNELL was born in this 
county Septenil er 14th, 1S73. He is a son of 
Abraham and Eliza ( W'edon ) I'ennell. On the 24th 
of April, 1907, he was married to Miss Lulu Gehl- 
bach, daui2,'hter of Otto Gelhljach of Trenton town- 
ship. 

i\Ir. Pennell was raised on a farm and has lived 
in Grundy County all of his life except one year 
which he spent in the West. For the last six years 
he has been a photog"ra])her in Trenton. His work 
is of a high order of artistic excellence and is very 
popular. 




ADDJSON MONTGOMERY. 



O. A. PICKETT, circuit clerk, was born in 
Mercer county, February 3rd, 1871. He came to 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



332 




O. A. PICKETT. 



Grundy in 1SS3. He is a son of E. N. and 
Elizabeth ( Keener) Pickett, of this city. The great- 
er part of the intervening time he has Hved in 
Myers township. He attended the Princeton High 
school, Harris college, and the Chillicothe normal. 
He has taught school for eight years, but the great- 
er part of his attention has been given to farming. 
He is also a very successful auctioneer. He was 
married June 3, 1896, to Miss Nora Berry, daugh- 
ter of Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Berry. Mr. and Mrs. 
Pickett are the parents of three children. Dale, 
Fred and Russell. 

Mr. Pickett has always been an active repub- 
lican. He w^as elected assessor of Myers township 
four successive times, resigning in order to accept 
his present office in 1906. This is the first county of- 



332 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



fice he ever held. Mr. Pickett is not a ward heeler 
or a spell binder. He is a steady, conservative busi- 
ness man in whom the people have great confidence. 




T. H. RADER 

THOMAS H. RADER, son of Joseph and 
Martha (Brown) Rader, was born in Daviess 
County, Mo., December 3, 1866. He attended the 
public schools and Grand River College. He is not 
married. 

Mr. Rader was born and raised on a farm near 
Bancroft, Mo. He left the farm at the age of eight- 
een and went to Bancroft, where he worked in a 
general store with F. M. Brown, his uncle. He 
^ame to Trenton in 1887 and began work for M. 
Wetzler, with whom he remained twelve years, or 
until his employer quit business here. He then 
worked for the Farmers Store two years, after 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 335 

which he took charge of a department store at 
Rocky Ford, Colo. Finding the altitude too high 
for his health, he returned to Trenton and remain- 
ed two years with the Farmers Store, then opened 
a store of his own, dealing in men's furnishing 
goods. This store he sold to Patterson & Nichols 
in 1907, and has remained with it as manager of 
the sales department. 

HENRY RENSCH son of Henry and Hattie 
Rensch, was born in Grundy County, February ii, 
1876. He was educated in the Trenton public 
schools and Avalon College. He was married to 
Lucile Benson, daughter of Henry Benson, Sept. 
21, 1898. 

Mr. Rensch was born on a farm and lived there 
until six years old. His father died in 1881, after 
which he moved with his mother and his brother, 
Clarence, to Trenton, where the boys attended 
school. After leaving school they went to work for 
A. W. Hunt, cigar maker, and served an appren- 
ticeship of three years. He worked five years af- 
terward for Mr. Hunt, after which he went to Fort 
Worth, Texas, and remained until 1903. Return- 
ing to Trenton, he and his brother, Clarence, bought 
the cigar factory known as Rensch Bros. They 
manufacture three regular and two private brands 
of cigars. The former are Missouri Girl and Bos- 
ton Straight, five cent cigars, and Pedro Vegas, a 
ten cent cigar. 

Mr. Rensch is a member and manager of th(» 
K. of P. band, and an artist on the violin, trombone 



334 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

and barotone. He is a member of the K. of P. and 
B. P. O. E. orders. 

DANIEL DALE RIDGWAY, son of N. M. 
and Rachel A. Ridgway, was born at Rossville, Ind., 
November 5, 1850. His education was received 
principally in the public schools of Osceola, la. Mr. 
Ridgway was married in 1881, March 15th, to Miss 
Laura J. Fanning. They are the parents of seven 
children, all living; Daisy Dean, wife of Chas. T. 
Wolf; N. M. jr., tailor; Fllanche, musician. 

Mr. Ridgway went from Indiana to Iowa with 
his father, and from Iowa came to Trenton in 1866. 
He entered the grocery business with his father, 
continuing in business until 1886, when the father 
retired, since which time he has conducted the busi- 
ness alone. Formerly Mr. Ridgway did consider- 
able wholesale business. He has dealt extensively 
in real estate, and now owns a fine 100 acre farm 
east of Tindall. 

LESLEY P. ROBINSON, attorney and jus- 
tice of the peace, is a member of the real estate and 
insurance firm of Collier & Robinson. He is a son 
of the late Peter L. and Mary E. Robinson, and 
was born at Corydon, la., August 17, 1881. Mr. 
Robinson attended Avalon College, the state uni- 
versity of Kansas, and the Kansas City Law School, 
where he graduated in the year 1904. Before at- 
tending law school he taught one year. 

In addition to his real estate, loan and insur- 
ance business, Mr. Robinson is a practicing lawyer. 
He was elected justice of the peace over a Republi- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 335 

can opponent in 1907, notwithstanding the over- 
whehiiing- Repubhcan majority of the city. He is a 
very active party worker in the ranks of the Demo- 
cracy, and has l)een honored l)y his party in various 
ways. He was a candidate for prosecuting attorney 
in 1906 and again in 190S. in tlie latter year run- 
ning far l)eyond his party strength. He was con- 
spicuously active in the county and city campaign 
for local option. Ah*. Robinson was married to 
Miss Nellie Songer, daughter of John Songer, of 
Trenton. Nov. 11. 1908. 

J. W. ROOT, whose parents were Levi and 
Polly (Stewart) Root, was born at Rome, Athens 
County, Ohio, October 5, 1(840, and was educated in 
the public schools of that state. He was married to 
Anna Eliza Moore, September 8, i860.. To this un- 
ion, eight children were born: Mrs.Linna Schooler, 
Mrs. Alice Meighan, ("^eorgc N., j^-'rs. Rosa F.l- 
ledge, Will W., James F., Mrs. Gr:\ce Proctor, and 
Miss Nellie. 

Judge Root lived on an Ohio farm in his boy- 
hood. He served through the civil war from 186; 
to 1865 ^^ sergeant in Company C, Eighteenth 
Ohio volunteer infantry. He moved to Grundy 
County in 1867, and engaged in farming and stock 
raising. Judge Root has long been a strong and 
active Republican in politics. He served as judge 
of the county court from 1890 to 1896. In 1898 he 
was appointed postmaster at Gait, which position he 
now holds. He is a Methodist, a Mason and a 
member of the Eastern Star. 

Mrs, Root, a loyal chnrcli worker and a popu- 
lar and home loving v/oir.rn, died Fei^ruary 9, 1908, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 337 

W. L. RUCKER was born in Harrison Co .- 
ty, May 27, 1876. He was married to Miss Elsie 
Day, daughter of S. S. Day, Nov. 9, 1900. Tlic/ 
have two xi.'dren; Samuel Day, born in November, 
T901, and Mary Frances, born December 28, 1907 

Mr. Rucker Hved in Harrison County until the 
outbreak of the Spanish- American war in 1898, 
when he enlisted in the ist Nebraska infantry and 
went to the Phillipines where he saw six months 
active field service. He then went into the custom 
service, and remained a year at Manila. He return- 
ed to the central states in 1900, was married at Gal- 
latin, and went into the banking business at Chula 
where he was cashier four years. He came from 
Chula to Trenton, where he did a brokerage busi- 
ness and also handled real estate. 

Mr. Rucker is now cashier of a bank in New 
Jersey not far from New York City. 

CHARLES L. RUPPERT, son of Charles and 
Bertha Ruppert, was born at Dusseldorf, Germany, 
on the river Rhine, October 7, 1867. He came to 
America with his parents in 1871, living a short 
time in New York and Brooklyn, whence they 
moved to Wayne County, Michigan, where he at- 
tended school, and remained till grown. He work- 
ed in a store about five years, or until 1887, then 
started in the railroad business at lona, Michigan. 
He worked for the Pierre Marquette road fifteen 
years, as operator, clerk, dispatcher and chief dis- 
patcher successively. He left here in 1902 for 
Springfield, 111., where he worked as dispatcher for 
the Chicago & Alton. He went to Santa Fe in 1903, 



338 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 





CHARLES L. RUPPERT. 

and worked three years as chief dispatcher and train 
master. He came to Trenton in 1906 to accept his 
present position, trainmaster on the Rock Island. 

]\Ir. Rnppert was married to Grace M. Robin- 
son, of Holland, Alichigan, January 17, 1892. They 
have two children : Roy M., born August 23, 1894; 
and Max K., born June 5, 1899. He is a Mason, a 
Knight Templar, an Elk and a member of the 
Lutheran Church. 

J. H. SCHIERBAUM is the son of Henry and 
Anna M. (Buldermann) Schierbaum, who came to 
the United States from Germany about the year 
1852. His father was born in October, 1822, and 
died December 24th, 1900; his mother was born in 
1824 and died October ist, 1886. 

Mr. Schierbaum was born in Erie County, 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 339 

New York, June 29th, 1857. He was married to 
Louise Brandt, April 27, 1882. They have six 
children; Nettie L., born April 28, 1883; Charles 
H., August 31, 1884; Benjamin H., born Decem- 
ber 8, 1885; Edwin C, born June 6, 1887; Ella K., 
born February 6, 1889; and David P., born April 
4th, 1893. All the children were born in Des 
Moines, la. 

]\Ir. Schierbaum came from Iowa to the 
Myers township farm where he now lives in March, 
1886. He owns a three hundred and eig'hty-six acre 
farm, and is especially interested in the breeding of 
Short Horn cattle. Since coming to this county he 
has taken an active part in public affairs. He has 
served the township as collector, as trustee and 
member of the township board. He was re-elected 
township trustee in 1907, and now holds that of- 
fice. For the last ten years he has been director 
of his school district, and takes an interest in educa- 
tional advancement. 

J\Irs. Schierbaum's parents were both from 
Germany. Her father, Henry Brandt, died No- 
vember 7, 1899; 1^^^' mother, Mary (Rethemie) 
Brandt, now seventy-seven years old, lives at Bur- 
lington, la. 

WILLIAM SCHELLHASE, the tailor, is a 
native of Germany. He was born in Magdeburg, 
Neustadt, August 28, 1849. His parents were 
Peter and Dora (Alberts) Schellhase. Mr. Schell- 
hase came to the United States in 1871, and on the 
nineteenth of February 1879, was married to Lue 
Bloom. They have two children, Carrie, born 



340 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

January 3, 1885, and Dora, born November 13, 
1886. Harry, born May 26, 1880, died on the 26 
of December 1892. 

Mr. Schellhase is an enthusiastic member of 
I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. orders. He came to 
Trenton in 1891, and estabHshed the business he is 
at present conducting. He is not only a good tai- 
lor but has established a reputation as a trustworthy 
gentlemen. 

SAMUEL SHELDON, deputy state veter- 
inarian, is the son of Truman and Sarah C. Shel- 
don. He was barn on a farm near Turney, Clin- 
ton County, Missouri, April 29, 1873. After com- 
pleting a common school course he entered the Kan- 
sas City Veterinary College, graduating in 1896. 
He then studied medicine, graduating at the Uni- 
versity Medical College, Kansas City, in 1900. Dr. 
Sheldon was married June 20, 1899, to Miss Myrtie 
O. Cant. They have one child, Sarah Velma, three 
years old. 

Dr. Sheldon lived on the farm where he was 
born until he was twenty-one years old, when he 
went to the veterinary college. After graduation 
he came to Trenton where he has since lived and 
practiced his profession except during the time he 
was in attendance at the medical college. Dr. Shel- 
don is not only a successful veterinary surgeon, but 
a very competent physician and at the present time 
is coroner. 

He is a loyal Republican in politics. 

M. F. SHEPHERD, son of Lsaac and Sarah 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 341 

(Coblin) Shepherd, was born in Behiiont county,0., 
March 1 1, 1855. He now resides two and a quarter 
miles northeast of Dunlap. Mr. Shepherd was 
married December i8th, 1879, to Mary E. Black- 
burn. 

Mr. Shepherd was raised on a farm. He came 
to this county when eight years old, and has since 
remained loyal to old Grundy. He owns a well im- 
proved, productive little farm, and is a public spirit- 
ed citizen. In politics Mr. Shepherd is a Republican. 

Mrs. Shepherd is a daughter of J. H. and Sarah 
Blackburn, formerly well known and highly respect- 
ed citizens of this county. Mr. Blackburn died 
February 20th, 1901, and Mrs. Blackburn October 
5th, 1897. 

JOHN SHINE, son of Patrick Shine, was 
married April 30, 1884, to Lora B. Robb, of Wis- 
consin. They have two children; Regina M., born 
July 14th, 1888, and Carlos, born September 21, 
1893; Nellie P., born Feb. 28, 1886, died Feb. 9, 
1906. 

Mr. Sl'ine was born on a farm and lived there 
until twenty-two years old, when he went into the 
plumbing and gas fitting business. He came to 
Trenton September 23rd, 1886, and worked with 
the gas company seven years, at his trade, going 
into business for himself in 1894, during the most 
of which time he has had full control of all the 
plumbing and gas fitting business of Trenton, and 
employs several men. Mr. Shine not only under- 
stands his profession, but is a good business man. 



342 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




E. N. SMITH. 



E. NOBLE SMITH, son of Samuel G. and 
Mary (Gannce) Smith, was born near Winters- 
ville, Sullivan County, November igth, 1862. He 
was married February 25th, 1884, to Sarah J. 
Stringer. They have six children : James M., born 
January 28th, 1885 ; Clifton C, born June 8th, 1887; 
Ethel A., born Fe1;ruary ist, 1889; Anna, born 
September 6th, 1891 ; Alice AI., born April 5th, 
1894; and Wineva, born December 19th, 1901. Mr. 
Smith's father died ]\lay 20th, 1900; his mother died 
January 17th, 1884. James M. Smith was mar- 
ried to Miss Sadie B. Whan, April 22nd, 1905; 
Clifton B. married Susie E. Fisher January ist, 
1907, Ethel and Noel Jewitt March nth, 1908. 

]\Ir. Smith was born and raised in Sullivan 
County. He owns land in that county and in 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY. 343 

Grundy, his home Ijeing a short distance on the 
Sulhvan County side of the hne, five miles south of 
Harris. He has a fine farm of 222 acres on which 
he Hves, and another of eighty acres in Grundy 
County, seven miles north of Gait. 

Mr. Smith is one of the hig, jolly, good natured 
kind of men. He is a Republican and an active po- 
litical worker. 

Mrs. Smith is the daughter of J. M. and R. A. 
Stringer, an old Sullivan County family, who have 
in late years moved to Oklahoma. She is an ener- 
getic woman of good business ability. 

G. W. SI^ilTH was born at Lindley August 
1 8th, 1855. His parents were I). C. and Delia 
(Shipley) Smith. He was married to Mary E. 
Rains February 27th, 1877. Eleven children were 
born to this union : William Oscar, born January 
i8th, 1878; Eva May, born February 27th, 1880; 
Hattie Lee, born November 4th, 1883; Nettie, born 
Alarch 1885; Walter, born August loth, 1887; 
Lenna, born September 25th, 1889; Delia, born No- 
vember i6th, 1891 ; Edna, born October 3rd, 1895; 
Rachel, born April loth, 1898; Truman, borH 
August 25th, 1900; Wesley, born June 27th, 1902. 
Mrs. Smith died August 5th, 1903. Four of the 
children are dead. Edna died February 23rd, 1900; 
Hattie, May 26th, 1901, Truman, January 31st, 
1 90 1, Nettie August 5th, 1905. 

Mr. Smith's father was born in Tazewell county, 
Virginia, in 1832; his mother in 1835 in Morgan 
County, Ohio. The latter died May 21st, 1883. 
On June 17th, 1905, ]\Ir. Smith married Lena 



344 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



Pearson of this county. With the exception of a 
few years spent in Trenton he has Hved on a farm 
all of his life. He now lives near Gait. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., Maccabees and M. W. A., 
and is a Republican in politics. 




H. C. SxMITH. 

HUGH C. SMITH, son of George W. and 
Rose (Carnes) Smith, was born in Trenton, in 1873. 
His mother was a sister of the late J. B. Carnes. Mr. 
Smith attended college at Terra Haute, Indiana, af- 
ter completing the Trenton high school course. He 
was married in September, 1899, to Miss Leona 
Conover, daughter of Col. John Conover. They 
have one child, Conover Carnes, born October 21, 
1903. 

Mr. Smith graduated in the law department 
of Ann Arbor in 1894, and was admitted to the bar 
in that year, and began the practice of law in Tren- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 345 

ton. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Grun- 
dy County in 1898, and re-elected in 1900. He left 
Trenton a few years ago to locate in the city of St. 
Joseph, where he is a member of the firm Fulkerson, 
Graham & Smith. Mr. Fulkerson of this firm is 
Frank Fulkerson, last Republican candidate for At- 
torney General. 

JAMES M. SMITH was born at Humphreys, 
Sullivan County, Mo., January 28, 1885. He is a 
son of E. N. and Sarah J. Smith. Mr. Smith attend- 
ed school at Kirksville and the Chillicothe Normal. 
He was married to Miss Sadie Whan, daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Whan, April 22, 1905. They 
ha\-e two children ; Thelma Maxine, born February 
12, 1906; and a baby boy, born November 30, 1907. 

Mr. Smith was raised on a farm. He began 
teaching at the age of eighteen, and is still in that 
profession. He has taught in Grundy and Sullivan 
counties, and for three years has taught at Os- 
good. He is at present principal of the Osgood 
school. 

Mr. Smith was elected collector of his town- 
ship in 1907, and now holds that office. His time, 
aside from that taken by the duties of his office, 
is divided between teaching and managing his 
farm, located three and a half miles from Os^ 
good. He favors the Republican party. 

T. L. SMITH, son of H. H. and Emily (Bun- 
nell) Smith, was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, 
June 27, 1867. He was married to Miss Annie 



346 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Berger July 30, i8(jo. They have one child, Harry, 
born August ist, 1892. 

The earlier part of Mr. Smith's life was spent 
on a farm. For twelve years he was associated 
with T. A. Woodress in the grocery business in 
Trenton, being one of the best salesmen in Grundy 
county. Later he was connected with Coon's hard- 
ware store, and was afterwards in the ice business. 
He has been the proprietor of a restaurant for some- 
thing over two years, and has built up a thriving 
business, running one of the most popular if not 
the most popular resort in the city. He lately added 
a bakery to his restaurant and does a very large 
bakery business. 

Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics. He takes 
an active part in public affairs, and has been a 
member of the city council for six years. 

J. D. SPECK is a son of John and Caroline 
Speck. He was born on the old home place near 
Spickard, October 23rd, 1869, ^^^^^ ^"^'^-^ educated 
in the public schools and in Avalon College. He was 
married to Daisy Spencer, of Trenton, October 22, 
1893. They have five children. 

Mr. Speck lived on the old home place until 
nineteen years old, when he went to work for Fish 
and Brewer, clerking eight years. He also work- 
ed for Messrs King, Hershberger & Cornwell of 
the same city for five years. After this he went 
back to the farm near Spickard. This farm he 
sold and went to Texas. He came from Texas to 
Trenton, where he worked in the Farmers Store a 
short time, then went to New Mexico. Returning, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 347 

he lived on the Joseph Payne farm for two years, 
then went into the mercantile business at Tindall 
in which business he is no\v engaged, carrying a 
line of hardware, implements, furniture, buggies, 
wagons, etc. 

ROY SPICKARD, son of John F. and ^lary 
(Shinn) Spickard, was born one and one half miles 
northwest of the town of Spickard, August 12th, 
1874. He was married October ist, 1893 to Maude 
M. Aloore. They have four children : Goldia, born 
September 20th, 1894; John M. born September 
15th, 1897; Frank, born June 13th, 1902; and Mil- 
dred, born July 13th, 1905. 

Mrs. Spickard is the daughter of John M. and 
]\Iary E. Moore. Her father died in 1879. Her 
mother is still living. 

]\Ir. Spickard was born and raised on a farm, 
and has fought the battle of life for himself since 
he was nine years old. For four years he was 
an employee in the Rock Island shops at Trenton 
as blacksmith and he spent about two years work- 
ing at the 1)lacksmith trade in St. Joseph. The rest 
of the time he has farmed in Grundy County. Mr. 
Spickard now owns a good one hundred and sixty 
acre farm lying seven miles north of Gait, and 
handles considerable live stock. He is a Republican 

O. J. STAR, son of George and Eliza Jane 
(Wyatt) Star, was born in Mercer County, Mo., 
August 4th, 1856. He was married to Laura Hol- 
mes, March 3rd, 1879. They have four children; 
F. M., born July 24, 1880; Emma A., born February 



348 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

20, 1882; C. F., born February 2, 1884; and M. J., 
born March 22, 1889. 

Mr. Star was raised on a farm in Mercer 
County. He spent three years in the west, princi- 
pally in the state of Nevada. The remainder of the 
time he has lived in Grundy County. Here he farm- 
ed near Tindall for a number of years, afterwards 
moving to Gait where he engaged in business then 
returned to the farm. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Mrs. Star is a daughter of Daniel Holmes. 
Her parents lived in Iowa, and she was born in that 
state. Her father died in 1866, and her mother in 
1864. 

DR. BERTHA E. (WIGGINS) SUTTON 
was born near Trenton, February 12, 1879. She 
was educated in the Kirksville Normal and the 
Missouri State University, holding an A. B. degree 
from the latter institution. She completed the 
medical course in the Iowa state university, and 
took a post graduate course in the Kansas State 
University. She was married to Dr. N. E. Sutton, 
a Trenton physician and a highly respected Chris- 
tian gentleman, November 25, 1903. Her husband 
died November 20, 1906. 

Dr. Sutton moved to Harrison county in 1893, 
returning to Trenton for the practice of her pro- 
fession upon completing her post graduate work in 
1901. Since that time she has practiced medicine 
and surgery in this city. Dr. Sutton is an active 
worker in the Christian church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 349 

E. V. SWANK, a son of John and Charlotte 
Swank, was born in Noble County, Ohio, December 
24, 1864. He lives on route three, Trenton. Mr. 
Swank was married to Iva Rensch, February 20th, 
1900. They have one child, Thelma Helen, born 
April 20, 1901. 

Mr. Swank left Ohio with his grandparents 
and came to Putnam County, Mo., where he lived 
until nineteen years old. Then he came to Grundy 
County and lived a short time, when he went to 
Kansas and stayed three years. Mr. Swank then 
returned to Grundy County and moved to his pres- 
ent two hundred and eighty acre farm, where he has 
since lived. 

JACOB SWANK was born in Nobel County, 
Ohio, August 5, 1844, and died July 9, 1907. He 
was married June 26, 1863, to Rebecca McCreary, 
of Ohio. They have six children; Lucy A., born 
Nov. II, 1864, now Mrs. G. W. Ziler, of Nobel 
County, Ohio; W. E., born May 9th, 1866, of Man- 
hattan, Montana; Ettie, born July 25, 1868, now 
Mrs. G. W. Ellington of Manhattan, Montana; 
Delbert, born Nov. 3, 1870; Wealtha B., born Dec. 
3, 1872; Earl P., born Feb. 25, 1884. 

Mr. Swank farmed in Ohio until 1868 when 
he moved to Grundy County, a half mile west of 
the present farm. Since his death his youngest son 
has managed the farm. 

G. H. TITCOMB, son of Edward and Eliza- 
beth Titcomb, was born in Hartford, la., March 8, 
1870. He completed his education in the Cameron, 



350 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

(Mo.,) W'esleyan College, and the Chillicothe 
Normal. He was married August 8, 1895, to Carrie 
Sheldon. They have three children; George Shel- 
don, born January 19, 1897; Silas Woodson, Janu- 
ary 2, 1900; and Frances E., June 28, 1903. Three 
children died in infancy. 

Mr. Titcomb came with his parents to Mis- 
souri when small, and settled in De Kalb County. 
He made that county his home until 1898, and 
taught school for ten years at Maysville, Weatherby 
and W^inslow. Mr. Titcomb came to Trenton in 
1900 and went into the grocery business. At the 
expiration of one and a half years, R. L. Evans 
bought an interest in the business, and since that 
time the partnership has existed. Mr. Titcomb is 
an Odd Fellow, a Modern \\^oodman and a Yeo- 
man. He is a member of the official board of the 
Methodist church. 

ANDREW CREWS TOLSON is a son of 
James W. and Annie (Stewart) Tolson, both of 
Lexington, Kentucky. He was born at Alpha, 
Grundy County, Octoljer 22, 1853. On the 27 of 
March, 1872, he was married to Amanda Ellen 
Owens. They have three children : James W., born 
May 12, 1874; Mrs. Hattie Stewart Anderson, born 
August 30, 1876, and Ora Cleveland, born May 20, 
1885. After completing the common school course 
Mr. Tolson completed a course in the Gem City 
Business College. 

The greater part of Mr. Tolson's life has been 
spent in farming. In 1882 he was in the mercantile 
business in Alpha. In 1902 he moved to Laredo and 



HISTORY OF GUIINDY COUNTY. 351 

went into the livery business which he conducted 
for some years. Sehing it, he continued to reside 
in Laredo, managing his farm which is not far from 
that city. Tn pohtics Mr. Tolson is a Democrat. 

MRS. DILEINIMA THOMAS is a daughter 
of Andrew J. and Ehzabeth (Koon) Batson. She 
was born in Marion County, West Virginia, May 
13th, 1853. She was married June 30th, 1872, to 
W. R. Thomas. Eight children were born to 
them: J. A., born June 2nd, 1873; ^^- E., born 
June i6th, 1876; E. W. and F. P. born January 24, 
1880; Grace V., lx)rn February 22nd, 1882: J. 
Pearl, born October 19th, 1887; William R., born 
September 17th, 1889; and O. R., born June 13th, 
1892. F. P. died in July 1880, and M. E. in August 
1877. 

Airs. Thomas' mother was born in 1830 and 
is still living. Her father was born in 1829 and died 
in 1875. They came to this county from Virginia 
in 1855. 

W. R. Thomas was born on the 27th, day of 
]\Iarch, 1 85 1, and died December 27th, 1901. 

Mrs. Thomas has a comfortable home and nice 
little farm in Myers township six miles west of Os- 
good. Her sons, William R., and O. R., help their 
mother with the management of the farm. Mrs. 
Thomas is a woman of good judgment, a good citi- 
zen and interested in church work. 

WALTER THOAL\S is a son of John A. 
and Margaret (Kincaid) Thomas. He was born 
near Trenton, where he now lives, on the 19th day 



352 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

of January, 1875. He received his education in 
the pubhc schools, Kirksville Normal and Avalon 
College. Mr. Thomas was married June 23, 1901, 
to Jessie Day. They have three children, Hugh 
Russell and Wendell, all at home. Mr. Thomas 
was reared on a farm near Trenton, coming to 
this city in 1902, where he has since made his 
home. He entered the mail service in December, 
1902, and is now a carrier on one of the city routes. 
He is a Republican in politics. 

FRED S. TOLLE is the son of Sam S. and 
Angeline (Perry) Tolle. He was born in thi^ 
county August 4th, 1873. On the 8th day of June, 
1898, Mr. Tolle was married to Miss Orlena Fen- 
ner, daughter of W. C. Fenner, of Gait. They have 
two children, Gerald and Forest. 

The earlier part of Mr. Tolle's life was spent 
on a farm. He was later engaged in the photo- 
graph business for about three years. Since July 
27, 1903, he has been the publisher of the Gait Sun, 
which was consolidated with the Gait Herald, un- 
der the name Sun and Herald, in May, 1906. Mr. 
Tolle assisted his father in newspaper work here 
and at Spickard, and his style of journalism resem- 
bles his father's to a considerable degree. He is a 
Democrat. 

JOHN G. TOOT, son of Moses and Hannah 
(Gilbert) Toot, was born at Carrollton, Ohio, Janu- 
ary 20th, 1848. He now lives in the northern part 
of Myers township. Mr. Toot was married April 
24, 1884, to Lizzie (Newton) CaSebeer. The}^ 
have two children: Lyda, now Mrs. Frank Linder, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 353' 

born September 6, 1886; and Lula, born July 10, 
1888. 

Mr. Toot has been a farmer and a carpenter 
for forty years. He owns a well kept farm, and 
gives considerable attention to stockraising and 
fruit growing. Air. Toot is a man of sturdy charac- 
ter, whose rugged honesty is proverbial wherever 
he is known and is one of his township's foremost 
citizens. He is a Methodist in religion and a Re- 
publican in politics. 

MRS ADA WADE, daughter of Wm. R. and 
Hester (Budd) Banta, was born in Wayne Coun- 
ty, Indiana, April 21, i860. She was married to 
Wm. A. Wade October 14th, 1880. One son, R. L., 
was born to them on March 4, 1891. 

Mrs, Wade taught school for a number of 
years, then engaged in dressmaking. She moved 
to Dunlap in February, 1893, and at present holds 
the position of telephone operator in that village. 
She and her son live in a neat little cottage of their 
own in that town, 

ELMER E, WILFORD was born in Athens 
County, Ohio, March 30th, 1863. He now lives 
three and one half miles north of Gait, on Rural 
route number one with school house and church, 
adjacent. He is the son of Jake and Eliza (Riggs)> 
Wilford. Mr. Wilford was married November i/;. 
1901, to Miss Ella Simpson. They have three chil- 
dren: Lee A., born July 9, 1903; Fay O., born 
April 18, 1905; and Lavetta, born September 16. 
1907. 

Mr, Wilford was raised on a farm and re- 



354 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

mains true to that occupation. He is a Republican, 
and has long been honored by the party in his 
township. He was elected constable of Liberty 
township in 1898, and re-elected five consecutive 
times and still holds that office. His long service 
iis evidence of the satisfactory way in which he has 
performed his official duties. Mr. W'ilford is a 
member of the Yeoman and K. of P. orders. 

Mrs. Wilford is the daughter of Thomas and 
Mary Simpson, who came to this county from 
Tennessee in the fifties. She is a women of ex- 
cellent character. 

OSCAR G. WILLIAMS, mayor of the city of 
Trenton, is a son of the late Colonel T. V. and Sal- 
lie Williams. He was born in Tazewell County, 
Virginia, July 16, 1866, coming with his parents to 
Grundy County in 1876. They located on a farm 
near Edinburg. His father was a physician, and 
was prominently known in the county years ago. 
After a course in Grand River college Mr. Williams 
studied law in the State University, completing his 
study in the office of Judge DeBolt. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1889. 

Though a Democrat, Mr. Williams has been 
city attorney two terms, and has been assistant 
prosecuting attorney. When the township organ- 
ization law was declared unconstitutional in 1908 
he was appointed county assessor by Governor 
Folk. In 1907 Mr. Williams was elected mayor, by 
unanimous consent. During his incumbency the 
city has had a business like administration. The 
water works reservoir has been built, with a ca- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 355 

pacity of forty million gallons, solving the question 
of clear water which had perplexed th-e city for a 
generation. The mayor lias introduced a new era 
in street cleaning, and is r<n advocate of the use of 
the drag on the r.npaved streets of the city. The 
sewer systems of the city have undergone great im- 
provements during the past year. In regard to 
paving he has adopted the aggressive policy of hav- 
ing the council order streets paved without waiting 
for the initiative to be taken by the property own- 
ers along these streets. Mayor Williams was re- 
elected without opposition in 1909. 

Mr. Williams was married to Miss Jennie 
Woods, of Laredo, February 16, 1893. They have 
one child, Cloyd Patton, eleven years old ; a daugh- 
ter, born in 1908, died in 1909. 

J. R. WINFREY, son of George P. and Eliza 
(Maloney ) Winfrey, was born in Liberty township 
April 2, 1874. He was married to Nora Gibson 
April 3, 1898. They have three children: Marie, 
born April loth. 1899; Lorene, born February 7th, 
1901 ; and Pauline, born August 30th, 1902. 

Mr. Winfrey engaged in farming and stock 
raising until 1905, when he moved to Dunlap where 
he engaged in the mercantile business. He ran a 
restaurant for a year, then engaged in his present 
business of general merchandise. Having wide ac- 
quaintance in the community and being in a good 
trade district, he is naturally building up a good 
business. 

Mr. Winfrey is a Republican and takes much 
interest in political affairs and is a local political 



356 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

leader. He was justice of the peace in Liberty 
township, resigning on moving to Duniap, wlTich is 
in Marion township. 

S. Cx. W'lTTEX, son of H. B. and Emily Wit- 
ten, was born in Daviess county July lo, 1859. His 
boyhood days were spent on a farm near Edinburg. 
He was married November 21, 1888, to Elnora 
Brandom. They have three children : Charles H., 
born November 4, 1902; Sam Frank, born June 13, 
1904, and Elnora, born May 22nd, 1907. Hugh, 
born Jan. 26, 1891, died July 21, 1898; Mamie, born 
May 17, 1893, died February 14, 1901. 

Mr. Witten is an extensive farmer and stock- 
raiser. He was in the ice business in Trenton for 
twelve years and was proprietor of a meat market 
for more than seven years. He lives in Trenton 
and is a stock holder in the Witten Hardware Co. 
Mr. Witten is an extensive breeder of Hereford cat- 
tle. He is a Democrat and one of Trenton's fore- 
most business men. 

L. A. WARDEN is a son of P. W. and Alma 
(Gordon) Warden, of Mercer county. His father^ 
an Indianian by birth, is a farmer and stock raiser, 
a Republican with considerable influence in politics, 
who has served his party as county chairman, coun- 
ty judge, and in various other capacities. 

L. A. Warden was born in Mercer County, 
April 5, 1883. He was a student of Missouri Wes- 
leyan College, Gallatin, and completed his educa- 
tion in the state university. He has also taken a 
business course. On his admission to the bar Mr. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



357 




L. A. WARDEN. 

Warden opened a law office in Columbia and prac- 
ticed law while completing his studies in the uni- 
versity. He received the degree Bachelor of Laws 
in 1907, and in the winter of that year located in 
Trenton, entering into a partnership with W. D. 
Stepp in the law. real estate, loan, insurance and 
abstract business, under the firm name of Stepp, 
Warden & Co. Mr. Warden is a Republican in 
politics and a Methodist. He was married to Miss 
Jessie Thomas, of Trenton, in the year 1909. 



J. M. WHAN is the son of R. M. and Lucinda 
(Grate) Whan. He was born in Beaver County, 



358 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




J. M. WHAN. 



Pennsylvania, August 24, 1H50, and came to Mis- 
souri in the year i(S66. 

Mr. Whan was married to Rachel E. Ford 
February 6, 1881. They have four children: John 
Robert, born November 20, iSSi, married to Miss 
Jessie Titus, of Harris in 1909; Sadie B. born July 
24, 1883, married to James Smith ; James Olan, born 
December i, 1886; Mary Blanche, born May 19, 
1893. 

Mr. Whan lives three miles northwest of the 
town of Osgood, and owns a three hundred and 
twenty-five acre farm, lying principally in Grundy 
County but a part of it extends across the Sullivan 
county line. He has lived in Grundy county the 
greater part of his life and is widely acquainted 
In addition to managing his farm and raising cat- 
tle, Mr. Whan buys and ships cattle and hogs ex- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 359 

tensively. He is a Republican in politics and he 
and Mrs. Whan are members of the Christian 
church. 

JOSEPH H. WARREN, son of M. D. and 
Alice Warren, was born near Trenton, October 6, 
1869. Mr. Warren completed his school studies with 
a course in the Kirksville Normal. He was married 
January 13, 1897, to Miss Edna E. Tolle, daughter 
of Sam Tolle, of Gait. They haye five children: 
Elizabeth Coe, Clio Marie, Vera Fern, Joseph Elgin, 
and Helen Angeline. 

Mr. Warren lived on the old home place near 
Trenton during his boyhood. He taught school for 
fifteen years, teaching first in Adair County. He 
taught at his old home district and other parts of 
this county, and six years at Gait, three in the gram- 
mar department and three as principal. He re- 
signed his position as principal of the Gait school 
to go into the furniture business, having bought the 
furniture store in that city of Sam Davis. He still 
retains an interest in that store. Mr. Warren mov- 
ed to Trenton in 1908, and is conducting a feed and 
sale barn in this city in partnership with his brother, 
Henry, 

A. M. WHITE is a son of J. W. and Diantha 
(Tower) White. His parents celebrated their gold- 
en wedding anniversary in 1901. Mr. White was 
born at Carbondale, Penn., March 8, 1854. He was 
married March 20, 1881, to Anna M. Bressler, of 
Norfolk, Nebraska. 

Mr. White lived in Pennsylvania until grown, 



360 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

and learned the harnessmakers trade. He left home 
when seventeen, and worked in the harness business 
in Pennsylvania and New York, was in business 
at Wisner, Neb., fourteen years, then came to Mis- 
souri and located in Johnson County. He was at 
Leeton a year and at \\'indsor two years in the har- 
ness and buggy business. He was in Chillicothe 
a year in the insurance business, coming from there 
to Trenton in 1899, since which time he has been in 
the real estate and insurance business in this city. 
He writes insurance in the Rankers Life, of Ne- 
braska. 

R. R. \\'IRT is a son of Charles and Susan 
AA'irt, of Nebraska. He was born at Burden, Kans., 
October 21, 1885. He now lives on route three, 
Trenton, Mo. Mr. Wivt was married to Coral 
Owen, December 25, 1904. They have one son, 
Victor Clare, born September 21, 1905. 

]\Ir. Wirt moved from Kansas to Excelsior 
Springs, AIo., when about ten years old. He moved 
to Grundy County in 1899 and located on a farm 
near Trenton. He lived here until 1904, when he 
moved to the three hundred and forty acre farm 
where he now resides. Mr. \\'irt is an Odd Fellow, 
and both he and Mrs. \\^irt are members of the 
Baptist church. 

BEN F. WOOD, son of Wm. and Marinda 
Wood, was born in Grant County, Indiana, Novem- 
ber 17, 1856. He was married to Mary A. McKay, 
daughter of M. A. McKay, May 8, 1878. They 
have five children: Althea R., born May 28, 1879; 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 361 

O. S., born Feb. 20, 1881, now in 1/isiness in Kan- 
sas City, Kansas; Icy Cleo, born Dec. 3, 1883, now 
IMrs. Cbarles Nair, of IMansfield, Mo.; Susan I., 
born September 26, 1898; Wm. McKay, x^pril 6, 
1900. Claude, 1)orn Jan 26, 1882, died Feb. 8, 
1883. 

Mr. \\'ood spent his boyhood on an Indiana 
farm, coming to Grundy County with his parents 
in 1874 and setthng about two miles east of Laredo. 
With the exception of about four months he has been 
a resident of Wilson township continuously since 
that time. He taught school for seventeen years. 
Quitting this work in the spring of 1891, he went 
to work for the Bank of Laredo, in which position 
he remained for three years. In January, 1896, he 
took charge of the Laredo Tribune which he per- 
sonally conducted for five years, then sold half in- 
terest to C. C. Crossen. They published the paper 
jointly for four years when i\Ir. Wood leased his 
portion to Mr. Crossen who edited the paper until 
the beginning of the year 1909, since which time 
INIr. \\'ood has been in active control. He has also 
for a number of years conducted a real estate, insur- 
ance and loan business. He served six years as 
township clerk and assessor, ten years as justice of 
the peace, four years as member of the township 
board, three years as chairman of the board of 
trustees, and in other official capacities. ]\Ir. Wood 
is an active Republican and takes an influential part 
in County politics. He is a member of the Baptist 
church. 

THOMAS A. WOODRESS is a son of James 



362 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




A. and Hannah Woodress. He was born near 
Edinburg, Grundy County, April 24, 1857. He was 
married December 16, 1877, to Lizzie E. Hoskins. 

Mr. Woodress attended school at Grand River 
College, Edinburg. His father had a store in Edin- 
burg at a very early day. He sold this store when 
Mr. Woodress was eighteen, and bought a store in 
Trenton, putting his son in charge of it as manager. 
After managing the store for a year Mr. Woodress 
bought it, and kept store for seventeen years on the 
same location, on the corner now occupied by W. D. 
Benge's meat market. In 1893 he quit the store 
and went on the road as traveling salesman for 
Franklin McVeigh of Chicago, which work he has 
since followed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Woodress have five children: 
Mabel, born March 22, 1887, now Mrs. Arthur 
Bradley; Floy, March 6, 1883, now Mrs. George 
Stablein of Trenton; James L., March 16, 1881, an 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 36S 

electrician in St. Louis; Albert C, Nov. i6, 1879^ 
manager of a cafe in Denver, Colo. 

WARREN ADDISON was born in Mason 
county, 111., Dec. 21, 1854. He lives at Dunlap, Mo. 
He was married to Miss Allie Harris, daughter of 
Isaac Harris, Sept. 15, 1881. They have two chil- 
dren: Walter S., born August i, 1883, in business- 
in Gait; Edward, born August 8, 1885, now in Kan- 
sas City. 

Mr. Addison left Illinois with his parents where 
a small boy, and settled in Macon county. Mo., 
where they lived a few years and then came ta 
Grundy county. His father, Edward Addison, died 
just before they left Macon county. His mother 
later married Isaac Swank. When about eighteen 
Mr. Addison left home to make his own way in the 
world. In 1881, after his marriage, he went to 
farming, continuing in that vocation for a number 
of years, in this county. He spent a few years in 
St. Louis. In 1906 Mr. Addison bought the hotel 
at Dunlap, and has lived there since the following' 
year, running a livery and feed stable in connection 
with the hotel. 

B. F. ASHER, son of Solomon and Elizabeth 
Asher, was born in Ohio, Feb. 5, i860. He lives on 
route one, Dunlap, Mo. Mr. Asher was educated in 
the public schools, the Kirksville Normal and Grand 
River College. He was married Dec. 28, 1887, to 
Miss Laura Dover, daughter of M. S. Dover. They 
have two children: Otis Linn, born Nov. 12, 1888, 
and Dover, born Sept. 25, 1890. Mrs. Asher was 



364 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

born in Sullivan county, Oct. 26, 1864. 

jMr. Asher came to this county from Ohio with 
his parents settling eight miles northeast of Trenton, 
where he lived with his parents until grown. After 
attending school at Grand River College and in 
Kirksville, he taught for a number of terms, after 
which he clerked in a grocery store in Kansas City 
for two years. Returning home he began farming, 
renting the old home place with his brother, Arthur, 
for five years, marrying in the meantime. He and 
his brother bought a two hundred acre farm in this 
comity and a farm near Chillicothe, both of which 
they sold in 1903, when Mr. Asher bought his pres- 
ent farm. This farm adjoins the old home place, a 
part of which it contains. It is well improved and 
well kept. 

For the past fifteen years Mr. Asher has been 
associated with his brother. Dr. J. A. Asher of Tren- 
ton, in handling standard bred trotting horses. They 
have some of the finest in the country. They have 
owned the famous Red Haw for several years. He 
also has registered Poland China and Duroc Jersey 
bogs, and Shorthorn cattle. 

SCOTT ASHER, son of Solomon and Eliza- 
beth E. Asher, was born in Ohio, June 17, 1865. He 
hves on route six, Trenton, Mo. He was married 
July 4, 1888, to Miss Leona F. Hollo way, daughter 
of Daniel A. Holloway. They have one son, John S., 
born April 16, 1893. 

Mr. Asher left Ohio when four years old, com- 
mg with his parents to Grundy county, where they 
settled on a farm a part of which he now owns. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 36& 

When grown he came to Trenton where he worked 
in the employ of the Rock Island for two and a half 
years, beginning in 1887. He then returned to- 
farming, living three years on a rented farm, then 
buying his present farm, adjoining his mother's- 
place on the west. He handles Shorthorn cattle,, 
Hambletonian horses, and Poland China hogs. 

C. D. AXTELL was born in Knox county, 111.^, 
Sept. 21, 1858. He lives in west Marion township, 
south of Dunlap. He w^as married to Cora B. 
Banta, Sept. 22, 1880. Ten children were born to- 
them: A son, born June 3rd, died June 4, 1881 ; 
Stella, born Nov. 11, 1882, now Mrs. Henry P. Bai- 
ley; Walter Howard, born July 9, 1884, married 
Huldah Crawford ; Davis Glenn, born February 27, 
1886; Karl Banta, July 3, 1887: Guy Robertson 
July 29, 1889; Ray Herbert, Feb. 4, 1892; Dale 
Harry, Sept. 5, 1895; A son, born Nov. 21, 1896, 
died Jan. i, 1897. Mrs. Axtell died Oct. 14, 1901, 
Mr. Axtell was married to Mrs. Mattie M. McHar- 
gue, Feb. 5, 1905. 

Mr. Axtell is a Republican in politics. He is a 
son of T. C. and Martha M. Axtell, the former of 
whom died in 1883, and the latter in 1875. His 
parents moved from Illinois to Iowa, then to Grundy 
county. Mo., in 1866. Mr. Axtell has lived here' 
since childhood, and has accjuired a large farm and 
other business and property interests. 

JOHN E. AXTELL, a son of T. C. and Martha 
Axtell, was born in Grundy county in 1870. He lives'- 
in Marion township, near Dunlap. He was married 



366 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

to Mary Alice Stinchcomb, Dec. 29, 1897. Three 
children were born to them, two of whom are liv- 
ing. Fern, born in 1902, died in the same year. 
Those living are Forest Roberts, born in 1899; Ves- 
ta Ruth, 1903. 

Mr. Axtell is a Republican in politics and a 
member of the Baptist church. He lived on a farm 
in his boyhood ,and has been farming for the past 
ten or more years. Mr. Axtell is a brother of C. D. 
Axtell. 

WALTER H. AXTELL was born in Grundy 
county, July 9, 1884. He lives two and a quarter 
miles southwest of Dunlap. Air. Axtell was educat- 
ed in the public schools of this county. He was mar- 
ried June 28, 1908, to Miss Huldah B. Crawford, 
•daughter of W .C. and Nettie Crawford. The for- 
mer was born Sept. 10, 1847, the latter August 18, 
1853. Mr. Axtell is the son of C. D. and Cora B. 
Axtell, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this 
book. 

Mr. Axtell is an enterprising young farmer, 
whose home has always been in Grundy county. He 
lives now in a new home, on "Bunker Hill." Politi- 
<:ally, he favors the Republican party. 

MARION BECKNER, son of Andrew Beck- 
tier, was born on the farm he now owns, June 15, 
1867. He lives on route 2, Trenton, Mo. He was 
married August 27, 1893, to Miss Lucy McCarty, 
daughter of W. C. McCarty. They have four chil- 
dren. Vernon T., born Oct. 11, 1894; Virgil D. 
Dec. 22, 1896; Howard V., April 24, 1898; Mary 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 367 

E., Oct. I, 1899. Mrs. Beckner was born in this 
county, April ii, 1875. 

Mr. Beckner was born and raised on the farm 
he now owns, which was entered by his father and 
which has never passed out of the family. He has 
also bought a part of the original place. 

Andrew Beckner came to this county from In- 
diana in 1846. He died June 26, 1878. Mr. Beck- 
ner lived with his mother, taught school and farmed 
on the farm until he was grown. His mother af- 
terwards married, and he married about a year 
later and went to Trenton where he lived a year. 
He then went to Tindall, where he lived two years 
teaching school and farming, returning then to the 
old home place, which he leased and bought land 
adjoining. He does general farming, handling 
Jersey cattle and making a specialty of dairying. He 
also handles sheep and hogs. 

Mr. Beckner was collector of Marion township 
for seven years. 

JAMES BENTON was born in Howard coun- 
ty, Mo., August I, 1839. He was married August 
27, 1867, to Sarah Thompson, who died August 
27, 1904. They are the parents of three children; 
John, born June 14, 1868; J. K., May 24, 1872; and 
Luther, August 7, 1873. 

He was born a slave, and remained in slavery 
until 1 861, when he purchased his own freedom, 
just before the breaking out of the civil war. "Uncle 
Jimmie" is a very interesting talker, and gives some 
vivid descriptions of ante-bellum days. He says 
that his father was a man of high connections, of a 



368 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

family that takes front rank in the nations history. 
That he was sold by him to Clarence Moore, of this 
county, brought to Trenton in 1839, ^^^ ^^'^'^^ ^^s 
been his home since that time. He was later sold 
to James Merrill, then to John P. Moore, then to 
John W. Moore, of whom he bought his freedom. 

During the war he served in Co. E., 65th U. S., 
and remained in the army until the close of the war. 
He was slightly wounded a few times. After the 
war he returned to Trenton and worked at the stone 
mason's trade, which he followed for forty years,, 
until age compelled him to quit in 1907. 

T. B. BERRY was born in Coshocton county, 
Ohio, Sept. 27, 1840. His present home is four 
miles north of Laredo. Mr. Berry was educated 
in the public schools of Ohio and Missouri. On the 

loth of January, 1869, he was married to Miss Re- 
becca M. Elledge. Mrs. Berry was born Nov. 3,. 
1849. '^^^ children were born to them: Josie A.,. 
July 22, 1870, died Sept. 6, 1896; Mary A., Oct. 
20, 1871, died June 20, 1896; Anna C, June 3, 1874- 
Albert B., Feb. 17, 1876; Lula N., Jan. 21, 1878;, 
Stimson N., Aug. 11, 1879; Bertha G., Jan. 2y, 
1883; Hattie E., Sept. 7, 1885, died July 26, 1901 ;. 
Lelah E., July 29, 1888; Frank F., Jan. 11, 1892. 

Mr. Berry came to Missouri when sixteen years- 
old. Four years later he enlisted in the Union army, 
serving three years. When his term of service had 
expired he returned to farming and stock rais- 
ing, living on the Daniel Berry farm north of Gait 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 369 

until 1S7C, wlien he moved to the fine two hundred 
and forty acre farm which he now owns. 

Mr. Berry is a son of Daniel Berry. His fath- 
er, who was horn in Belmont county, Ohio, w^as a 
man of sterling worth and influence in his genera- 
tion. Mr. Berry's mother's maiden name was Dil- 
lon. His wife is a davighter of James H. and Mary 
(Stimson) Elledge. 

D. R. BERRY, a son of Daniel and Anna Ber- 
ry, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, November 
II, 1850. He was married Occtober 4, 1874, to 
Miss Alfaretta Clark. They have six children: 
Nora, Mrs. O. A. Pickett, was born July 25, 1875: 
T. E., born Sept. 3, 1878; Eugene C, born Sept. 
25, 1881 ; Myrtle, Mrs. Caddie Payne, February 12, 
1886; Lelah, June 19, 1890; Ruth, in 1894. Their 
granddaughter, Goldia M.,, who is T. E. Berry's 
daughter and whose mother is dead, has her home 
with Mr. and Mrs. Berry. 

Mr. Berry came to ^Missouri and to Grundy 
County with his parents in 1858. Since that time 
his home has been in Grundy County. Mr. Berry 
owns a large farm in flyers township, where he liv- 
ed until a fevv^ years ago. He always gave consider- 
able attention to cattle raising and feeding. His 
son, E. C, is now on the farm. They have recent- 
ly begun breeding and selling Shropshire sheep, an'^ 
have some fine imported animals. 

l^.Tr. and Mrs. Berry and family are members 
of the Christian church, ?.nd take great interest in 
religious matters. They nre su-stantial citizens. 



370 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



and exert a strong influence on the civic and reli- 
gious life of the county. 




MR. AND MRS. D. R. BERRY. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



.371 




372 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

RICHARD H. BECK was born in Howard 
County, Mo., Dec. 25, 1856. He lives on route two, 
Trenton. Mr. Beck attended the public schools, 
took a scientific course in Westfield College, West- 
field, 111., and was educated for the ministry. Mr. 
Beck's parents both died when he was small. His 
father being a Mason, the members of that order 
found him a home, and he was bound out to H. W. 
Dewey, of Clark County, 111., with whom he stayed 
until he was eighteen when he ran away and struck 
out for himself. He earned money as a farm hand 
with which he attended school, then taught, and 
w^orked his way through college. On graduating 
he went to preaching for the U. B. church, preach- 
ing in Illinois for nearly eighteen years. He came 
to Missouri in 1902 and bought the Dr. Haley fruit 
farm of sixty acres. He still devotes a part of 
his time to the ministry, preaching once a month 
at Pattonsburg. 

Mr. Beck was married in Illinois, Dec. 2t^, 1885, 
to Miss Nannie L. Funk. They have six children: 
Weaver O., born Jan. 20, 1889; Alma L., born 
August 20, 1891 ; Elton Wayne, Sept., 13, 1893; 
Warren L., May 18, 1896; Roland K., April 15, 
1898; and Wm. C, Jan. 10, 1901. 

JOSEPPI D. DESK INS is a son of W. P. and 
Lizzie Deskins. His father lives near him now, 
liis mother is dead. He ^vas born in the forks or 
the river May 7, 1876. He was married to Minnie 
McCready, daughter of Lon McCready, March 22, 
1899. She was born in Henry County in October 
1876, coming to Grundy County in 1892. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 373 

Mr. Deskins was born and reared on the old 
Deskins place in the forks of the river on land 
which his father entered. He lived on the home 
place for five years after his marriage, helping 
his father farm. In 1904 he bought his present 
farm of eighty acres four miles northeast of Tren- 
ton on which he now lives. 

jMr. and Mrs. Deskins belong to the Methodist 
church. They have a well improved farm and a 
pretty home. 

CHARLES BICKEL, son of Samuel and Mary 
Bickel, was born on the place where he now lives, 
six and a half miles east of Trenton, Sept. 12, 1870. 
He lived on this farm with his parents until grown 
and married. Just prior to his marriage he attend- 
ed medical college in Kansas City, and married 
while taking a course there. On graduation, in 
1902, he went to Judsoni, Ark., where he practiced 
his profession for awhile. He concluded, however, 
that he liked the farm better than the medical pro- 
fession, and returning to Grundy county, he took 
charge of his father's farm, the latter moving to 
Trenton. He also bought land adjoining him. He 
handles all kinds of live stock, especially sheep, and 
raises silver laced Wyandotte chickens. He is a 
member of the K. of P. lodge. 

SAMUEL BICKEL, of Trenton, Mo., was 
born in Wayne county, Indiana, March 19, 1834. He 
was married to Mary E. Brooks, Dec. 15, 1868. 
They have two children: Charles, born Sept. 12, 
1870, and James born Jan. 17, 1872. The latter lives 



374 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

at Mountain View, Mo., the former near Trenton. 

Mr. Bickel was raised on an Indiana farm, 
and lived there until 1868. He married soon after 
coming to this county. He bought his present farm 
soon after, and lived there until 1902, when he mov- 
ed to Trenton. He worked at the carpenter trade 
for a few years. The farm consists of a hundred 
and sixty acres, and is located east of Trenton. 

WM. H. BICKEL, son of Tolnas and Emily 
Bickel, was born in Henry County, Ind., ^larch 31, 
1843. ^^ lives on route two, Trenton, ^lo. Mr. 
Bickel was married to Sarah J. Caster, daughter 
of John Caster, in Indiana, Jan. 22, 1867. They 
have two chldren; Edward, and Ella B., now Mrs, 
John F. Elliott of Laredo. 

Mr. Bickel lived on an Indiana farm with an 
uncle until eighteen years old, then entered the 
L^nion army, joining Co. A., 54th Indiana volunteer 
infantry. He later re-enlisted in the artillery. Bat- 
tery A, I St Heavy Indiana, and served until the 
close of the war. He took part in a number of im- 
portant engagements. At the close of the war he 
went back to Indiana, remaining until 1868, when 
he came to Grundy county with his brother, Samuel 
Bickel. He bought his present farm, which he has 
owned and lived on continously since that time. He 
has two hundred acres, well improved, and a good 
home. He is a member of the Baptist church. 

C. P. BLACKBURN was born in Livingston 
county. Mo., March 1 1, 1852. He lives in west Mar- 
ion township, near Dunlap. Mr. Blackburn re- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 375 

ceived his education principally in the Trenton 
schools. He was married to Amanda M. Easly, 
March 19, 1875. They have two children; Alice E., 
born Nov. 4, 1876, and Josie E., born July 31, 1879, 
both of whom are married. 

Mr. Blackburn has always followed the occupa- 
tion of farming and stockraising. He has a fine 
farm southeast of Dunlap. His father, J. Rankin 
Blackburn, died Feb. 20, 1900. His mother, whose 
maiden name was Sarah Webb, died October 5, 
1897. He is a Republican in politics. 

WM. O. BROWN was born in Daviess coun- 
ty, AIo., Nov. 24, 1871. His parents home is a 
half mile southwest of Lindley. Mr. Brown was 
married August 22, 1884, to Rosa W. Lindsay, who 
was born ]\Iay 29, 1870. They have two children, 
Winnie Grace, born Nov. 18, 1895, and lone, born 
January 19, 1898. 

Mr. Brown moved from Daviess to Sullivan 
county in 1907, and to Grundy county in 1909. In 
addition to farming and stockraising, Mr. Brown 
has followed the threshing business for eight years. 
He is a republican in politics. His parents are 
James and Hattie (Hendricks) Brown. His wife's 
parents are James nnd Phoebe (Higgins) Lindsay. 

N. T. E)UTLER was born in Knox county, 
Ohio, August 10, 1834. He was married May 30, 
1858, to America Tshmael. They have four chil- 
dren living, and three are dead. Mrs. Butler was 
born in this state, Nov. 23, 1841. 

Mr. Butler left Ohio with his parents in 1844, 



376 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

and went to Columbus, III, where they had remain- 
ed but a few months when his mother died. The 
family went successively to Fountain Grove, 111., to 
Henry County, la., in 1846, to Union county Ky., 
within a short time, thence within a year to their 
old home in Ohio. They stayed there but a few 
months when they returned to Iowa, bought a farm 
in Monroe county, stayed two years, then moved 
to Grundy county in 1857 where his father died a 
few years later. Mr. Butler moved to Kansas and 
remained ten months, then returned to Grundy 
county where he has since lived. He bought the 
farm where he now lives, and has lived on it for 
fifty-two years. The farm contains a hundred and 
sixty acres and is ten miles east of Trenton. 

Mr. Butler served in the home guards during 
the war, and volunteered for regular army service 
but was rejected three times on account of disability. 
He belongs to the A. F. and A. M. lodge. 

Emma Butler, born May 18, 1859, lived but a, 
short time. Robert F., was born April 2, i860; 
Frances M., April 27, 1862; died May 20, 1876; 
Sophrona J., Jan. 10, 1864, Js now Mrs. George Mc- 
Kay; James U. was born Jan. 13, 1866; John M., 
May I, 1868; May C, May 14, 1870; married N. 
A. Baker, died Jan. 22, 1901. Her two children, 
Wm. T., born Nov. 21, 1891 ; and Ernest C, born 
March 26, 1896, make their home with Mr. Butler. 

E. F. CARPENTER was born near Walker, 
la., Nov. 25, 1 87 1. He lives five and a half miles 
northeast of Laredo. He was educated in the state 
of Iowa, and was married to Sarah Easter, March 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 377 

28, 1894. His wife was born Nov. 26, 1881. They 
have five children: Lesley Clifford, born May 11, 
1896: Ruby, Sept. 25, 1898; Tressie Ellen, April 28, 
1900; Bashia Ann, Jan. 11, 1902 ; Alta Nadine, Dec. 
I. 1907. 

Mr. Carpenter moved from Walker to Taylor 
county, la., in 1876, and from there to Grundy 
county. Mo., in the spring of 1901. He is a farmer 
by occupation, and has a fine place of two hundred 
and forty acres. In politics he is a Republican. 

His parents are Seymour and Elizabeth (Bai- 
ley) Carpenter. His wife's parents are Nathan and 
Nancy (Ray) Easter. 

J. A. CARPENTER, the son of J. D. and 
Joanna Carpenter, was born near the Herbert school 
house, Grundy county, Feb. 14, 1883. He w^as mar- 
ried Oct. 29, 1905, to Miss Jessie Cox, daughter 
of J. P. Cox. She was born in Mercer county, Aug. 
26, 1882, and moved to Grundy when small. 

Mr. Carpenter lived until nineteen on a farm 
ten miles northeast of Trenton, going then to Kan- 
sas City, where he worked two years at the barber 
trade, then to St. Louis, then to Stockton, Cal., re- 
turning to Grundy county in the spring of 1905, 
when he bought his present farm near Four Cor- 
ners, where he has since lived. His farm is known 
as the Herbert farm, and consists of eighty acres, 
well improved, with a good residence. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have one child, Garvin 
D., born Nov. 22, 1907. 

R. J. CARPENTER was born in Garrett coun- 



378 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

ty, Ky., March 28, 1847. He lives on route six, Tren- 
ton, Mo. Mr. Carpenter's parents came to this 
county over fifty years ago. He was married Oct. 
3, 1878, to Miss Mary Pyle, daughter of Caleb 
Pyle. Mrs. Carpenter was born in Grundy county, 
April 4, 1862. They have three children living, and 
one dead. Orville C, was born March 6, 1882. 
Minnie M., born July 25, 1884, died Oct. 7, 1905; 
Leroy was born July 21, 1887; Anna B., Sept. 15, 
1893. 

Mr. Carpenter came to this county from Ken- 
tucky with his parents in 1854, settling near his 
present home where his father bought land. His 
parents both died shortly after the war, and he and 
his brother had charge of the farm. He afterwards 
purchased a part of the old home place and remained 
there until 1899 when he bought his present farm a 
half mile northwest of the Herbert school house. 
He and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian church. 

JOHN CLARK, son of James M. and Eliza- 
beth (Clyce) Clark, was born in Montgomery coun- 
ty, Ky., Oct. 22, 1850. His father was born in 1804, 
April 15, and died Sept. 22, 1870. His mother was 
born May 9, 1816, and died Oct. 26, 1872. Mr. 
Clark is a Republican in politics. He came from 
Kentucky to Lindley, Mo., in 1866, and has lived 
here since that time. He was never married. 

Mr. Clark is a farmer and stock raiser. He is 
a man who appreciates the importance of good roads 
and knows how to make them, having served his 
part of the county a long time as road overseer. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 37^ 

D. H. CLAYPOLE, son of J. A. and Irene 
Claypole, was born in Grundy County, near Laredo^ 
Sept. 23, i(S82. He lives on route two, Trenton, 
Mo. He was married March 20, 1903, to Miss 
Attie Johnson, daughter of Charles Johnson. Mrs. 
Johnson was born in Grundy county, March 20, 
1884. They have one child. Homer L. 

Mr. Claypole lived on his father's farm until 
his marriage. Not long- after his marriag"e he 
bought his present farm, ten miles southeast of Tren- 
ton. It consists of eighty acres of well improved 
land. Mr. Claypole does general farming, making 
a specialty of horses. He is an expert trainer. 

CHARLES H. COOK was born in Frederic 
county, Maryland, May 31, 1833 and received his 
education in the schools of that state. He now lives 
at Lindley, Marion township. Mr. Cook was mar- 
ried Feb. 24, 1859, to Nancy Elizabeth Dobbins. 
They have three children; R. M., born Dec. 23,. 
i860; Sarah Catherine, Feb. 8, 1863; Bessie Irene,. 
January 19, 1874. 

Mr. Cook came from Maryland to Lewis coun- 
ty in 1845, and remained there until he was twenty- 
one years old. In 1854 he came to Grundy county, 
and entered a half section of land at seventy-five 
cents an acre. He has followed farming all of his 
life. Fle also conducted a general merchandise busi- 
ness at Lindley from 1863 to 1885, then moved to- 
Trenton and engaged in the milling and banking 
business. He w^as also mayor of the city of Trenton 
for two years, and is one of the county's foremost 
citizens. He owns a considerable part of the stock 



380 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

of the Trenton National Bank, of the Cook and Ven- 
cill Bank, at Gait, and has numerous other business 
interests besides a farm near Lindley of over a 
thousand acres. 

Mr. Cook is a Republican in politics. He is a 
son of James and Catherine (Alotter) Cook. Mrs. 
Cook's parents were Thomas and Sarah (Kirk- 
Patrick) Dobbins. 

E. A. COOK was born of Quaker parentage 
near Salem, Henry county, la., Sept. 8, 1843. He 
was educated in the district school, and Salem High 
school. On breaking out of the war of the rebellion 
he enlisted in the First, Iowa Cavalry at the age of 
17. His parents objected to his enlisting, and pre- 
vailed upon him to go to school, but after one year 
in school, when Abraham Lincoln called for three 
hundred thousand more men, thinking his services 
w^ere needed to uphold the flag he enlisted July 13, 
1862, in Company K, 19th Iowa Infantry, serving 
three years. He was in the battle of Springfield, 
Mo., Jan. 7, 1863; w-as at the siege and capture of 
Vicksburg, Miss. In the fall of 1863 he was with 
General Banks and Farragut in their expedition 
across the Gulf of Mexico, and capturing Browns- 
ville, Texas. He was with his regiment at the 
siege and surrender of Spanish Fort, Alabama, in 
April, 1865. It was here that his regiment first 
received the news of the surrender of General Lee's 
army and the close of the war. He was mustered 
out in July 1865, ^"<^ after returning home, was 
waited upon by a committee from the Quaker church 
and one of them said to him, "Eli, if thee will ac- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



381 




E. A. COOK. 

knowledge that thee is sorry thee eiiHsted in the 
army we will not disown thee from the church," he 
answered, "I can never acknowledge that I am sorry 
I fought for my country." 

Soon after returning home he went to Alpha, 
Grundy county, j\Io., and engaged in teaching 
school. October ii, 1867, he was married to Mary 
J. Rooks, nee Litterel. Of this union there were 
seven children born; Edgar W. Cook, Albert P. 
Cook of Spickard, Mo., Mrs. Emma L. Schooler, 
Mrs. Cora Berry, and Mrs. Ethel Wyman, Los 
Angeles, Cal. 

While living at Alpha, Mo., he was for sev- 
eral years justice of the peace, and chairman of 
the township board of Wilson township. 

In 1878 he moved to Spickard, Mo., and en- 



382 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

g"aged in the general merchandise business, in 
which he was very successful ; was for several terms 
mayor of the city. In 1888, he organized the Bank 
of Spickardville, taking in as partners Wolz Bros, 
and accepting the position of cashier, and after- 
wards holding the vice presidency. He was verj 
actively engaged in the management of this bank 
tmtil the summer of 1903 when he disposed of his 
interests to Mr. J. F. Wolz and identified himself 
with and helped to organize the Farmers and Mer- 
chants Bank of Spickard, Mo. He was one of its 
first directors, also secretary of the hoard of direc- 
tors. 

In 1902 he was elected to the office of Judge 
of the Grundy County court and re-elected in 1894, 
holding the office four years. 

In 1904 he sold his residence in Spickard, and 
moved to Trenton, Mo., but losing his health he 
disposed of his property there and with his family 
went to Los Angeles, Cal., intending to spend the 
winter there and return in the spring; but regain- 
ing his health in the salubrious climate of southern 
California, he decided to take up his permanent 
residence in Los Angeles and still resides there. 

CLAY COPPLE, son of N. S. and Elizabeth 
Copple, was born in Sangamon county. 111., Feb. 10, 
1863. He was married Oct. 9, 1885, to Miss Addie 
Heare, daughter of \\m. Heare, of Livingston 
county. Mrs. Copple was born in Knox county, 111., 
Dec. 4, 1865, came to Livingston county with her 
parents when nine years old. They have eight chil- 
dren living. Mary B. was born Aug. 12, 1886; 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 383 

Harvey N., June 30, 1888; Rosa N., May 29, 1890; 
Albert L., April 11, 1894; Bessie E., Jan. 30, 1898; 
Bird H., Jan. 30, 1900; Virgil J., April 28, 1902; 
and Ena O., July 30, 1907: Carrie May, born May 
I, 1892, died three months later. 

When five years old JMr. Copple came with his 
parents to Livingston county, where his father still 
lives, his mother having died in 1908. After his 
marriage he farmed in Livingston county until 1899 
when he came to Grundy and ran the Shafer farm 
near Edinburg for a year. Thence he returned 
to Ludlow, where he lived three years, then return- 
ed to Grundy county and leased the Wm. Belshe 
farm, where O. G. Gallatin now lives. He then 
lived on the Granville Owen farm a year, then on 
the James Warren farm north of Dunla]) two years, 
then two years on the (^wen place, from which he 
moved to the Delano farm, on route two, Trenton, 
where he has since lived. 

INIr. Copple is a member of the Masonic lodge. 
He and his family belong to the Methodist church. 

J. ^^ CRABB was born in Ross County, Ohio, 
Octoler 14, 1844. He lived in that county until 
ten years old, then moved to near Columbus where 
be lived with his parents until grown. He moved 
to Iowa when twenty-two years old, and attended 
College at Apella, taking a teacher's course. After 
graduating he taught in the public schools of Iowa 
four years, then went back to his old home in Ohio 
where he taught four years. He then came to 
Grundy county, arriving in 1876, and taught in 
this and adjoining counties twelve years. In the 



384 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

meantime he had become interested in farming, 
teaching during the winter and farming during the 
summer months. 

Mr. Crabb was married to Miss Lucy Hosom^ 
daughter of A. J. Hosom, March 23, 1882. He 
bought his present farm about the year 1886, after- 
wards quitting teaching and giving the farm his en- 
tire attention. He has a hundred and ten acres of 
weh improved land and a good home. Both he and 
Mrs. Crabb are members of the Christian church. 

They have had four children. One died in in- 
fancy. A. L., born Jan. 14, 18S6, is married and 
lives in Trenton; Spencer C, was liorn Oct. 29, 
1892; Edwin R., May 30, 1896. Mrs. Crabb was 
born at Connelsville, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1859, and came 
to Missouri in 1875. 

FRANK CORNWELL, son of C. H. and 
Amanda Cornwell, was born in Grundy County, 
three miles south of where Spickard now is, August 
5, 1858. He was married August 16, 1879, to Miss 
Laura Bond, daughter of Wm. Bond. They had 
one child, Rosa Lee, born in 1880 and died in 1889. 

Mr. Cornwell moved to Spickard with his par- 
ents in 1872. From that time until 1876 he carried 
mail over the "Star" route, from Spickard to Win- 
tersville, Half Rock, Modena and Buttsville, Sul- 
livan county. He afterwards worked in the employ 
of the Rock Island and of W. H. Brewer, and was 
in the drug business at Spickard from 1879 to 1883, 
He then farmed until 1889, then was with the firm 
of Fist and Brewer until 1893. He was postmaster 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 385 

of Spickarcl from 1893 to 1897, and since that time 
has been a member of the mercantile firm of King, 
Herschberger «S: Cornwell. 

PETER CRAIG was born on the farm he now 
owns, eight miles northeast of Trenton, Mo., Oct. 
20, 1870. His parents, Jacob and Louisa Craig, are 
both dead. Mr. Craig has always lived on the old 
homestead. His father was born in Pennsylvania, 
May 29, 1 82 1, and came to this county, where he 
spent the remainder of his life, in 1854. He died 
April 28, 1883. After the death of Mr. Craig's 
father, he remained with his mother, assisting her 
to manage the farm, until her death July 20, 1908. 
His mother was born in Tennessee, and was mar- 
ried to Jacob Craig before they came to Missouri. 

Mr. Craig belongs to the I.O. O. F. lodge. 

W. P. DESKINS, son of George and Kather- 
ine Deskins, was born in Tasal County, Virginia, 
July 31, 1843. He came with his parents to Mis- 
souri in 1849. They lived in Jackson countv eighteen 
months and then came to Grundy county the latter 
part of 1850, settling in what was known as Crub 
town, near Brimson. They stayed there one year 
then bought land in the forks of the river, part of 
which j\Ir. Deskins now owns. His mother bought 
some of this land for 12 1-2 cents per acre. His 
father died the year they came to Grundy county. 
M. Deskins has lived in this part of the county 
all of his life. He owns a number of farms in this 
and other parts of the county, in all about six hun- 
dred acres. He rents out most of his land. He is 



386 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

interested in other business than farming, owns 
bank stock, etc. 

Mr. Deskins was married first to Miss EHza- 
beth Gooch, May 20th, 1861. She died December 
25, 1884. He has eight chiklren by his first wife. 
He married Miss Etta Cooper March 20, 1888. 
She is a daughter of Alexander Cooper. They have 
no chikh'en. They hve on route one, Trenton, Mo. 

C. H. DOBBINS was born at Lindley, Grundy 
County, December 19, 1849. ^^ hves five miles 
northeast of Laredo. He was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of this county, and was married April 
6th, 1876, to Emma F. Morse. Mrs. Dobbins was 
born January 27, 1856, at Galesburg, 111. They 
have two children living, and one dead. Addie 
May, born Jan. 12, 1877, died Dec. 3, 1899. H. C. 
was born March ist, 1880; Leonard T., May 18, 
1 891. 

Mr. Dobbins on reaching the age of twenty-one 
clerked in the store of C. H. Cook, at Lindley for 
three years. He then attended school at Columbia, 
]\Io. Returning from school he again clerked for Mr. 
Cook until 1877, when he embarked in the milling 
business which he followed for a number of years, 
building the Lindley flouring mill with D. T. 
Graham in 18R0, which was afterwards moved to 
Harris. 

J\Ir. Dobbins is a Republican in politics. He is 
a son of Thomas and Sarah (Kirkpatrick) Dobbins. 
His father was born March 18, 181 5, and died 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



387 



May 22, 1896. His mother was born January 18, 
1 81 8, and died Feb. 20, 1891. 

Mr. Dobbins has for a number of years been 
engaged in farming and stock raising. He has a 
well improved farm of three hundred acres. He 
is also a director of the Citizens State Bank of 
Laredo. 




ANDREW DOF.RR. 

H. J. DOERR is a son of Andrew and Louisa 
Doerr. He was born in Monroe County, III, Oct. 
22, 1866. He now lives on route one, Trenton, Mo. 
Mr. Doerr moved to Grundy County with his par- 
ents in 1 87 1, and settled three miles north of Tren- 



388 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

ton, where they Hved a year. They then bought 
the farm Mr. Doerr now owns, five miles north- 
east of Trenton. It consists of ninety acres of well 
improved land. 

Mr. Doerr's father was born in Germany, July 
23, 181 9. He died Dec. 5, 1906. Mr. Doerr is not 
married. 

EUGENE T. DALHOUSE was born on the 
farm lie now owns, near Honey Creek Chapel, nine 
miles north-east of Trenton, Oct. 30, 1869. He w^ ~ 
married in Nebraska, Oct. ic, igoo, to Miss Lou 
Davis. L ne c'.iild. ]:orn June 16, 1901, died in in- 
fancy. Another, Gertrude, was born r\iay 28, 1904. 
Mrs. Dalhouse was born near Keokuk, Iowa, July 
22, 1879. 

Mr. Dalhouse lived on the farm he now owns 
until grown. His father, W. P. Dalhouse, died 
July 14, 1906. His mother died when he was five 
years old. He spent a year or two in the west, and 
on his return farmed with his father until his mar- 
riage when he bought a farm of fifty-five acres ad- 
joining his father's place. He managed this place 
and assisted with his father's until the death of the 
latter, buying the old home place of the heirs in 
1908. He has a well improved farm of two hun- 
dred and fifty-five acres. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dalhouse are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dalhouse's father was 
an early settler, buying the home place in 1856. 
The family came from \'irginia. Joseph H., a 
brother of \\\ P. Dalhouse, was the first person 
buried at Honey Creek Chapel. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 389 

J. T. DRUMMOND, son of John and Eliza- 
beth Drummond, was born in Morgan County, 
Ohio, August 14, 1863. His parents had previous- 
ly been residents of Grundy County, but had re- 
turned to Ohio to settle up business affairs and 
came back to Missouri in 1S64. They located three 
miles northeast of Trenton, where his mother still 
lives, his father having died in 1895. Mr. Drum- 
mond lived on the farm until grown and taught 
school four years previous to his marriage. He then 
bought his present place consisting of ninety acres, 
where he has lived continuously. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Drummond belong to the 
Methodist church. He is a Republican in politics. 
His wife was Miss Minta Haynes, daughter of 
Aaron Haynes, and they were married on January 
31, 1889, his wife's birthday. She died December 
20, 1902, leaving four children; Verna L., born 
June II, 1890; Loren L., April 18, 1892; Mabel C, 
February 23, 1894; Aaron H., February 29, 1896. 

L. S. FLESHMAN was born in Greenboro 
County, West Virginia, Feb. 2, 1834. He lives on 
R. F. D. No. 2, Trenton, Mo. He was married 
Dec. 12, 1855, in West Virginia, to Addie L. Ewing, 
who died in 1892. He was married again in 1894, 
to Jennie E. Couch. He has ten children by his 
first wife. 

Mr. Fleshman lived in Virginia until the spring 
of 1856, when he came to Grundy County and set- 
tled on the farm he now owns, where he has lived 
continuously since that time except for a few months 
in Kansas at the outbreak of the war. It is nine 



390 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



miles east of Trenton. Mr. Fleshman learned the 
blacksmith trade, serving as an apprentice in West 
Virginia. He followed that in connection with 
farming, having a shop on the farm, until advanc- 
ing age compelled him to quit. 

Mr. Fleshman served in the Union army dur- 
ing the War, joining Co. G., i8th Missouri, and 
serving in all three years. He is a member of the 
R. P. Carnes Post, G. A. R., and was comissary 
sergeant in the army. He has been a member of 
the Baptist Church for over sixty years. 




DAVID W. FARNSWORTH. 

DAVID W. FARNSWORTH, a son of Frank 
and Anna E. Farnsworth, was born at 
Lindley, Grundy County, December i6, 
i860. He was married July 15, 1880, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 391 

to Addie Pixler, daughter of Joseph Pixler 
of Haysville. They have one son, Guy M., born 
December 30, 1883, who is assisting his father in 
the store at Laredo. Two children died in infancy. 

Mr. Farnsworth Hved in Lindley until nineteen 
years old. He taught school three years, and was 
in the mercantile business at Haysville five years. 
He traded his store for a farm and traded part of 
the farm for a hardware store at Alpha, moving 
the store from Alpha to Laredo when the Milwau- 
kee railroad started the latter town and killed the 
former in 1887. He sold this store after running 
it three years at Laredo, and went into the dry 
goods business as a member of the firm Farnsworth 
& Overton. In 1893 he sold his interest in this busi- 
ness to Frank Selsor. In 1904 Mr. Farnsworth 
again started in the mercantile business, dealing in 
groceries and hardware, and erected his own build- 
ings. He has three brick store buildings in Laredo. 

Mr. Farnsworth is a Republican in politics, 
and a Modern Woodman. He was postmaster at 
Haysville under President Arthur, and at Laredo 
under President Harrison. 

H. W. GALLATIN was born in Morgan Coun- 
ty, Ohio, June 17, 1879. ^^ ^'^^w lives at Dunlap, 
Mo. He was married Jan. 5, 1898, to Miss Delia 
Campbell, daughter of Wm. Campbell. They have 
three children; John W., born Jan. 10, 1899; Otto, 
born Nov. 26, 1900; and Gertrude, born Jan. 10, 
1907. Mrs. Gallatin was born in Scotland County, 
October 30, 1882. 

Mr. Gallatin's parents came to Missouri 



392 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

when he was about six months old, setthng six miles 
east of Trenton. His father died when he was 
three years old. He was then bound out to Elmer 
Smith, and lived with him until thirteen years old, 
then lived with his mother two years. Since that 
time he has made his own way in the world, work- 
ing his way through school. After his marriage 
he lived for a time in Scotland County, then came 
to Grundy County where he farmed until 1903, 
when he went into the mercantile business at Farm- 
ersville, in which he remained eight months. He 
then came to Trenton and clerked for Ratliff & 
Scott, remaining three years. He was with L. D. 
Spencer, the grocer, for one year, then bought an 
interest in "Our Store," a general merchandise 
store at Dunlap, and has since been its manager. 
The store deals in general merchandise, and car- 
ries an extensive stock adapted to the needs of its 
district. 

SANFORD G. GARNAND was born in 
Grundy County near Spickard, February loth, 1879. 
He now lives four miles northeast of Trenton. He 
was married July 15, 1907, to Miss Laura Mc- 
Laughlin, daughter of the late Asbury McLaugh- 
hn, of Trenton. 

Mr. Garnand is a son of W. O. Garnand. He 
has always lived on a farm, save two years and a 
half spent in Klondike. Mr. Garnand went into 
the auctioneering business in 1906, and at once 
achieved marked success as an auctioneer. He form- 
ed a partnership with Col. W. B. Carpenter in Aug- 
ust, 1908. The firm has more than local reputa- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 393 

tion and does an immense business. A!r. Garnand 
is also manager of the bona fide sales department 
of Col Carpenter's Missouri Auction School. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

W. G. GATES, son of Calvin and Celia Gates, 
was born in this county, a half mile from his present 
home, June 8, 1879. He was married to Miss Fannie 
McElfresh, daughter of G. W. McElfresh. They 
have no children. 

Mr. Gates was born and raised on a farm now 
owned by his mother, a half mile west of his present 
home. His father died when he was a boy of four- 
teen. He lived with his mother until married, then 
went to farming for himself, buying his present 
place soon thereafter, where he has since lived. 

Mr. Gates is an Odd Fellow and a Presby- 
terian. He is a Republican in politics and a trustee 
of Lincoln township. 

\\\ P. GIBSON is a son of Robert A., and 
Anna E. Gibson. His mother is dead, his father 
lives at Seattle, Wash. Mr. Gibson was born in 
Trenton, Mo., Oct. 6, 1878. He was married Oct. 
6, 1902, to Miss Flora Mason, daughter of J. C. 
Mason, of Trenton. They have no children. 

Mr. Gibson was born and raised in Trenton. 
He worked at various trades, going into the em- 
ploy of the Rock Island as brakeman in 1900. In 
1903 he was promoted to conductor, which position 
he has held since that time. He has been a membei^ 
of the O. R. C. since 1903. 



394 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

A. K. GOOCH is the son of Wm. Gooch. He 
was born six miles north of Gallatin, Mo., Feb. 12, 
1856. He was married to Cora V. Allison Feb. 
28, 1891. They have one child, Arley Roy, born 
October 30, 1894. 

A. K. Gooch went to Texas with his parents 
before the war, in 1858, and remained there until 
1863. At that time his father, Wm. Gooch,was 
drafted in the Confederate army. He thereupon 
moved to Johnson Co., Mo., and settled near War- 
rensburg and went into the state militia. He re- 
mained in Johnson County until 1868 when he 
moved to Grundy County settling near Dunlap on 
the farm now owned by Frank Ford. He lived in 
this county until 1883 when he moved to the state 
of Washington and stayed until 1884, when he re- 
turned to Grundy County. 

In 1885 he went to Kentucky and remained 
there about one year when he came back to Grundy 
County where he lived the remainder of his life. He 
died at the home of his son, A. K. Gooch, in the 
year 1897, and was laid to rest in the A. F. & A. M. 
cemetery in Trenton. 

A. K. Gooch moved from the farm to Trenton 
in September 1880 and remained there all of the 
time except the winter of 1901 when he went to 
Colorado. 

In 1883 he commenced working at the car- 
penter trade. In 1886 he went into the contracting 
and building business and has followed it ever since 
except in 1900 and 1901 when he worked for the 
city on the police force. He is now running a shop 
with Perry Smith at 701 V>^iter Street. He has 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 395 

built nearly two hundred houses in Trenton and 
Grundy County. 

SAMUEL A. HARTLEY, son of Georg.e and 
Harriet Hartley, was born in Yorkshire, near Shef- 
field, England, April i8, 1843. He was married 
Feb. 20, 1857, to Anna Hinkley. She was born 
May 16, 1847, at Hiram, Ohio. They have four 
children living, and two dead. O. A., born 
Oct. 28, 1868, lives near Laredo; Arthur, born 
Jan. 12, 1874, died the next fall; Walter C, born 
August 26, 1879; Charles E., Jan. 18, 1881 ; Geo. 
H., March 12, 1884. 

Mr. Hartley's father died in England when he 
was small. His mother married Thomas Spring- 
thorp. He came with them to America in 1847, 
and lived with them at Ravanna, Ohio, until grown. 
He went to Hiram college in 1867, and came to 
Grundy County, Afo., in 1869, buying the farm he 
now owns, in the Rural Dale neighborhood. In his 
youth he learned the blacksmith trade, and worked 
at that before he came to Missouri, and at times for 
some time afterward. He also worked in the Rock 
Island shops at Trenton, for three and a half years 
directly after coming to Missouri, his brother-in- 
law running the farm. He lived at Spickard two 
years, blacksmithing, and has since been on his 
farm. He has a hundred and sixty acres, well 
located and well improved. He has been a director 
of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company since 
its organization. He has been a member of the 



396 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

township board and justice of the peacv: iov some 
time. 

Mr. Hartley at the outbreak of the civil war 
joined the 42nd, Ohio cavalry, was transferred to 
Buell's signal corps, serving six months. He re- 
enlisted in the 171st Ohio, w^as transferred to the 
39th Ohio, Co. K., and served to the end of the 
war, serving in many important engagements. He 
is a member of the R. P. Carnes Post G. A. R. 

WARREN HARRIS, son of Daniel and Lizzie 
Harris, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, May 
12, 1833. He was married November i, 1855, tc 
Henrietta L. Cranston w4io was also born in Cham- 
paign County, Ohio, September 28, 1837. 

They have eight children; Ralph C, born July 
12, 1857, died June 19, 1865; C. D., December 21, 
1858, lives in St. Joseph, Mo.; Sybil Irene, August 

30, i860, died June 24, 1865; Eugene G., October 

31, 1863, died July 12, 1865; Glen C, March 4, 
1867, ^"^o^^' i^'i Walla Walla, Washington; Anna L., 
December 21, 1868, now Mrs. Joseph Thompson 
of near Laredo, Mo.; Guy, December 19, 1871 ; 
Louis H., March 26, 1875, "ow in Walla Walla, 
Washington. 

Mr. Harris came to Missouri in 1858 and 
bought his present place in i860 which contains 
three hundred and thirty-eight acres located five 
miles northeast of Trenton. His son, W. G., was 
married June 2, 1909, to Jennie Blattner, daughter 
of Isaac Blattner who recently came here from Ne- 
braska. 

Mr. Harris handles registered shorthorn cat- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 397 

tie also registered Percheron horses and registered 
Shropshire sheep. Jordon Jr., a thorough bred 
Percheron horse owned by Guy Harris took first 
prize at the Grundy County Fair at Trenton iii 
1908. 

J. W. HENDRICKSON was born on the farm 
he now owns, ten miles east of Trenton, Jan. 3, 
1864. He was married Sept. 25, 1887, to Miss Ida 
Mueller, daughter of Jacog Mueller. She was born 
in Monroe County, III, June 24, 1864, coming to 
years old. 

Mr. Hendrickson lived on a farm with his 
father the greater part of the time until his mar- 
riage. He then moved into a house on the old 
home place, where he remained until the death of 
his father, in 1908, when he moved into the old 
home. He bought the farm adjoining, to which 
he moved, and afterwards bought other adjoining 
land. After the death of his father, his mother, 
who lives with him, deeded him the home place. 
He has a well improved farm, on which there are 
two good residences. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson have six children. 
Lillie was born Jan. 20, 1889; John M., Feb. 16, 
1893; Etta F., Feb. 9, 1895; Sarah G., July 28, 
1897; Earnest ]\T., June 21, 1900'; Mildred, Nov. 
2, 1906. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson are members of the 
Christian Church. 

JOHN S. HILL'S father is Phillip Hill, a 
Pennsylvanian by birth. His mother is Mary A. 



398 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

Hill. He was born in Marion township, Grundy 
County, Mo., in the year 1861, and was educated 
in the public schools of this county. Mr. Hill was 
married to Bertha Sheppard, in 1904. Mr. Hill was 
one child, Nettie, born in February, 1900. 

Mr. Hill has always followed farming for a 
hvelihood, and has always had the wisdom to know 
that Grundy County is a good place to live in. He 
is a Republican in politics. 

J. B. HINKLEY is the son of J. B. Hinkley, 
who died Dec. 4, 1901, and Elizabeth Hinkley, who 
lives with him. He was born in Grundy County, 
March 11, 1882, on the place he now owns. He was 
married Jan. 2, 1908 to ]\Iiss Ethel Blazer, daugh- 
ter of James Blazer. 

Until the death of his father ]\Ir. Hinkley as- 
sisted him on the farm. Since that time the farm 
has been conducted by hi mand his mother. He 
handles pure bred Poland China hogs. 

J. B. Hinkley, Sr. was born in Hiram County, 
Ohio, May 2, 1839. He was educated in that state, 
taking a course in Hiram College, and came to 
Missouri in 1866. He was married Nov. 13, 1871, 
to Elizabeth McCreary. Their son, Avery D., born 
Sept. A, 1872, died April i, 1873; Curtis T,., born 
June 10, 1880, died August 17, 1881; Eber Mc, 
born June 7, 1884. died Jan. 23, 1892. 

VICTOR O. HOBBS, a son of W. B. and 
Esther J. Hobbs, was born at the old home place 
three and one half miles south of Trenton, January 
10, 1878. His father was one of the old pioneers 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUTNY 



399 




VICTOR O. HOBBS. 



of this county, coming here in 1837. INIr. Hobbs 
spent his early Hfe on the farm, graduating from 
the Trenton High School and later took a course 
at Avalon College; for several years he was en- 
gaged in teaching, beginning when but eighteen 
years of age. He still lived at the old home place 
and spent his leisure time in studying surveying, 
completing a course with the I. C. S. and later 
attending the Armour Technical Institute at Chic- 
ago. 

He was elected Assessor for this township and 
served two terms; while holding this office, he was 
appointed County Surveyor by Gov. Dockepy; he 
resigned this office in 1904 to accept the office of 
City L\tigineer of Trenton, which place he has held 
continuously since that time. He has one of the 



400 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

• 

most complete surveying e(|uipments of any civil 
engineer in the state, and is often employed for 
special work. During the 1909 session of the legis- 
lature he was appointed minute clerk, but his pri- 
vate business prevented him from serving; he was 
also offered a splendid place in the U. S. Revenue 
service, luit was forced to decline for the same 
reason. 

He has recently become much interested in 
raising pure l^red chickens and has a lot of S. C. 
Buff Orphington<. among the finest in the country. 
He was recently appointed a member of the State 
Poultry Board liy (^lOv. Hadle}'. 

Mr. Hobbs was united in Marriage Feb. 26, 
1900 to Laura E. Kackley, a daughter of L. M. 
Kackley. Three children have been born to this 
union; Walter, born May 30, 1901, Benton, Jan. 
14, 1903, and Ray, June 17, 1905. 

DR. W. C. HUNTER is a son of E. R. and 
Emily Hunter. He was born at Lathrop, Mo., Sept. 
28, 1870. His Dresent residence is Kansas City, Mo., 
he having left Trenton last year, 1908. 

Dr. Hunter received a general education in the 
Trenton high school, and studied medicine in the 
Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky. He 
was married to Allie M. \\'oldr!dge, daughter of 
John Woldridge, Dec. 2y, 1894. They have one 
child. Lexie. born June 18, 1896. 

Dr. Hunter graduated in the medical college 
in 1893. He has also taken a four years course 
in the state university. Dr. Hunter practiced for 
nine years in Livingston and Grundy Counties, lo- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 401 

cated in Trenton, and left Trenton in August 1908,, 
to practice medicine in Kansas City. While en- 
gaged in the general practice of medicine, Dr. Hun- 
ter is a specialist on diseases of the eye and ear. 

RAYMOND B. JACKSON, son of B. and 
Josephine Jackson, was born at Dunlap, Iowa, Oct. 
17, 1880. He now lives at Tindall Mo. He re- 
ceived his education in the public and high schools 
and the Capital City Commercial College at Des 
Moines and spent two years in the Iowa State Col- 
lege. He was married to Anna M. Gehlbach Feb- 
ruary 3, 1904. 

Mr. Jackson was born on a farm and moved to 
Dunlap, la., where his father was in the hardware 
business. They lived several years in Des Moines, 
where his father was manager of a brick company. 
He sold out his interest three years ago and bought 
the Clark farm of over six hundred acres four 
miles north of town. He and his father bought the 
hardware store of J. D. Speck at Tindall, May 12, 
1909. The firm is called B. Jackson and Son. 

MARSHALL JOHNSON, a son of Luther 
and Adelia Johnson, of Farmersville, was born in 
Carroll County, Mo., Sept. 3, 1882. He was mar- 
ried March 12, 1906, to Miss Daisy Moore, daugh- 
ter of George F. Moore. They have one child, 
John, born August 14, 1907. 

Mr. Johnson lived in Carroll County for a 
number of years, and spent some years in Kansas 
and in the west, farming and ranching. He came 
to Grundy County in 1904, and worked at various 



402 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



places. After his marriage he leased a farm near 
his father-in-law, then leased the Long farm, where 
he now lives, five and a half miles east of Trenton, 
on route two. He is an expert paper hanger and 
painter, and works at that trade between crops and 
at odd times. 

Mrs. Johnson belongs to the Methodist Church. 




WILLIAM p. JOINER. 

WILLIAM P. JOINER was born in Clinton 
County, Ohio, January i6th, 1874. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of that state and at Ava- 
lon College. In 1881 he came to this county with his 
parents, his father buying a farm near this city, 
on which he still resides. Mr. Joiner made his 
Iiome on the farm until 1899, when he entered the 
€mploy of the Rock Island, soon becoming con- 
ductor. June 1 6th, 1905, he was appointed cir- 
cuit clerk of Grundy County by Governor Folk, to 



HISTORY OF GRUNDT COUNTY 



40S 



fill a vacancy. He quit the railroad work to ac- 
cept this place, whfch he filled until 1907. 

When his term of office had expired Mr. 
Joiner went into the coal business, in which he is 
still engaged. He is secretary of the local chau- 
tauqua association and of the local poultry associa- 
tion, being a breeder of pure bred Black Orping- 
tons. For five years during his residence on the 
farm Mr. Joiner taught school, the lady who after- 
wards became his wife being one of his pupils. 




J. FRANK JONES. 

J. FRANK JONES, the subject of this sketch, 
is a native of Grundy County, having been born on 
the old Jones homestead ten miles northeast of 
Trenton. His father, Simpson Jones, was one of 
the pioneer settlers of this county, having come 
here from Kentucky about 1854, and, with the ex- 



404 i). HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

ception of a short time, made his home here during 
his Hfetime, where he became a prosperous farmer.. 
His son, J. Frank Jones, Hke the other members of 
the family, was raised on the farm and attended 
the pubHc schools. Later, when he had grown to 
manhood, he attended the Kirksville and Warrens- 
burg normals, and also took a commercial course. 
He then taught school for a number of years, his 
last work in teaching having been as Superintendent 
of the schools of Keytesville, the county seat of 
Chariton County. After considerable experience in 
other professions outside teaching, Mr. Jones re- 
turned to his first love, the farm, about eight years 

ago. 

Since that time he has practiced scientific farm- 
ing. He has owned a number of good farms in 
the county, and at present has nearly six hundred 
acres of fine land, well stocked and well kept. 

On the fourth of Sept., 1889, he was married to 
Miss Alice Clay, of Saline County, of an old family 
whose history may be traced back many years. To 
this union the following children have been born: 
Gladys Clay, Sept. 6, 1892; Bernice Simpson, July 
27th, 1904; J. Frank Jr., July 17, 1902; Charles 
Edward, August 2nd, 1908; and one who died in 
infancy. 

REV. N. W. KEITH was born Sept. 2t„ 1827 
in Harrison County, Ky. He moved to Ohio when 
small and from there to Grundy County, Mo., in 
June 1839, locating two miles east of where Spick- 
ard now is. He remained in that section until 1861, 
when he moved to V\'avne county, la., returning 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ' ' ' 405 

to Missouri in 1873 and locating on a farm east of 
Spickard near where he had first located. 

' Mr. Keith entered the ministry when eighteen 
years of age and continued in that calling until 
tjie last few years during which time he has been 
unable to travel, but is still a very energetic worker 
in the church. 

Mr. Keith was married December 9, 1849 to 
Margaret Schooler by Rev. Ira Blakely, a pioneer 
minister known to all old settlers; to this union 
there were born eight children, seven boys and one 
girl, all of whom are living and married and the 
youngest of whom is thirty-nine years old. Attorney 
T. H. Keith of Spickard is next to the youngesr. 
child. 

THOMAS HENRY KEITH is a son of N. 
W. and Margaret Keith, who came to Missouri in 
1839. He was born in Wayne county, la., Decem- 
ber 26, 1866. He was married to Mary E. King, 
daughter of N. W. King, of Myers township, 
March 8, 1891. They have one child, Warnic Earl, 
born March 31, 1S92, who is now a graduate of 
the Spickard high school, and now teaching in this 

county. 

Mr. Keith spent his early life on a farm, and 
taught school for ten years. He read law under the 
instruction of O. G. Bain, of Judge George Hall, and 
of Harber & Knight, and was admitted to the bar in 
1899. Since that time he has practiced law, and has 
in addition to his legal practice dealt in real estate 
and written insurance. 

Mr. Keith lives in Spickard. He is one of a 



406 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




REV. AND. MRS. N. W. KEITH. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



40T 




T. H KEITH. 

family of eight, se\ en loys and one girl, and is next 
to the youngest. The entire family and both par- 
ents are still living. Mr. Keith's parents are among 
Grundy County's oldest living pioneers. 

He is a republican in politics, and has served as 
township assessor, justice of the peace, city attorney 
and in other offices. 



J. H. LEE, son of Allen and Alarinda Lee, was 
born in Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, j\Iay 19, 185 1 
He lives on route six, Trenton. Mr. Lee and Miss 
Attelia Perry, daughter of Rees and Elanore 
Perry, were married January 2, 190S. 

Air. Lee lived in Ohio until 1864 when he came 
to Grundy Countv and moved to a farm six miles 
east of Trenton. He lived here until 1896 when he 



408 



HISTOHY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




J. H. LEE'S RESIDENCE. 

moved to the farm now owned by James LeHew. Hq 
bought the farm he now owns, just east of Tren- 
ton, in 1905. 

Mr. Lee is a stockholder in the Dunlap bank. 
He is superintendent of the grain and vegetables 
department of the Grundy County fair, and keeps in 
line with modern farm methods. 



J. C. LEHEW was born at Fort Wayne, In- 
diana, May 16, 1870. He lives on route six, Tren- 
ton, Mo. Mr. LeHew was married to Miss Ella 
Crawford, daughter of Wm. C. Crawford, Decem- 
ber 24, 1901. They have three children: Cassie 
Maurine, born November 10, 1902; Clifton Craw- 
ford, March 15, 1904; Helen Mildred, September 
6, 1905. 

His parents came to Grundy county when Mr. 



■ HISTORY OF GRtJNDY COUNTY 409 

LeHew was three years old, and lived northeast of 
Trenton until he was grown. After he was married 
he bought a farm near Edinburg. After living 
there three years he moved to his present farm two 
miles east of Trenton. 

Mr. LeHew has a w^ell improved one hundred 

acre farm. His house is lighted by electricity. He 

' is a member of the I. O. O. F. and M. W. A. lodges, 

and both he and Mrs. LeHew are members of the 

Baptist church. 

J. M. LOWEN, son of Hamilton H. and Sallie 
A. Lowen, was born in Knox County, Mo., Sept. 
3, 1844. He lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. He 
was married to Miss Mattie A. Arbuckle, daugh- 
ter of Isaac R. Arbuckle, June 7th, 1893. She was 
born in Wood County, West Virginia, July i, 1859, 
moved to Illinois when small, and came to Grundy 
County in 1880. They have two children living, 
and one, born August 26, 1894, died in infancy. 
Harry M., was born Oct. 27, 1895 ; Charles F., June 
16, 1897. 

Mr. Lowen lived on a farm in Knox County 
until ten years old, his father dying two years ear- 
lier. The family then came to Trenton, where they 
lived a year, then bought a farm east of Tindall, 
on which they lived until 1882, at which time Mr. 
Lowen quit farming and went to work for the Rock 
Island. He remained here nearly ten years. A 
few years later he married, after which he went 
to farming. He rented the Terry place for two 



410 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



years, and in 1895 bought his present eighty acre 
farm four miles. northeast of Trenton. 

Mr. Lo<>ven was. a meinber of . the home .guards 
during the war. He is an Odd Fellow, and a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. Mrs. Lowen is a 
Baptist. 




D. W McKEE'S RESIDENCE. 



D. W. A.cKEE, a son of David and Anna AIc- 
Kee, was l^.orn in TittslAir;:^, Pa., Feb. 16, 1861. He 
was married !\larch 14, i>S8, to Miss Ida Bolton, 
daughter of George Bolton. They have six children 
five of whom are living. 

Mr. McKee lived in Pennsylvania until twenty- 
one years old when he went to southwestern Iowa 
and went into the implement business. He went 
from there to Denver, Colo., where he was a con- 
tractor, then to Chevenne Countv, Neb. He lived 



HISTORY OF GRUNDT COUNTY 411 

there four years and was sheriff of the county. He 
then returned to Iowa, and was traveHng salesman 
for an irnplement house for, a iew years,„which em- 
ployment he quit and went to farming. He lived in 
Iowa until the spring of 1909, when he bought the 
Lathrop farm of two hundred and twenty-six acres 
on route six, just east of Trenton. 

Mr. and Mrs. McKee's children are George R., 
born Dec. 11, 1888; James W., Sept. 10, 1890; 
Bessie M., born February 26, 1895, died May 19, 
1906; Frank, born Dec. 26, 1896; Hattie M., Feb. 

19, 1899, and Alexander D., August 2^^, 1906, 

JOSEPH L. MARSDEN, son of John and 
Hannah Marsden, was born in Philadelphia, Nov. 

20, 1864. He was married Sept. 11, 1889, to Eliza- 
beth A. Carter, daughter of Hon. John E. Carter, of 
Trenton. They have one child, Edna M., born July 
10, 1890. 

Mr. Marsden came to Trenton with his parents 
when fourteen years old. He was call boy for the 
Rock Island for four years, beginning Oct. i, 1897, 
then went into the shops and served nine years as 
machinist. 

In 1892 he quit the shops and went into the 
laundry business as a member of the firm Baker 
& Marsden. This firm soon became Marsden Bros, 
and erected the building they now occupy in 1893, 
from which time they have continually added to 
their equipment and extended their business. Mr. 
Marsden was superintendent of the water works 
for seven years, up to July 25th, 1906. 



412 HISTORY dF GRUNDt COUNTY 

JOHN H. MERRYMAN is a son of John and 
Jemima Merryman. He was born at Rock Cas- 
tle, Kentucky, Oct. 21, 1841. Mr. Merryman and 
Serena E. Kilburn were married Dec. 31, 1865. 
They have five children, three of whom are living. 
They are Laura Levona, now Mrs. Wm. Curtis ; J. 
M., of Laredo, and Mary J., wife of Walter Owen, 
of Creston, la. 

Mrs. Merryman was born June 19, 1847, 
Henry F. was born Oct. 28, 1886, Minnie B. was 
born May 24, 1873, died Jan. 18, 1884. 

Mr. Merryman was born on a farm. His par- 
ents drove to Grundy County in 1844, settling near 
where Laredo now is. Mr. Merryman entered land 
here, and lived on the farm until 1895, when he 
came to Laredo and went into the hardware and 
implement business, in which he continued until 
January, 1908, when he sold his business to Mr. 
Farnsworth, and retired from active business. 

Mr. Merryman sold H. G. Belshe, said to be the 
first white child born in Wilson township, 180 
acres of the old home place. He was first assessor 
of Wilson township, and has served as collector 
and township trustee. He is a member of the Chris- 
tian church, of the L O. O. F. and the G. A. R. 
•He has seen extensive military service ; was a mem- 
ber of the 30th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and 
afterwards served in Co. K., 44th Missouri, until 
the close of the war. 

ALBERT P. MILLER, son of Major John W. 
and Harriet (Patton) Miller, was born in the his- 
toric town of Winchester, Virginia, Sept. 25, 1845. 



HISTORY OF GRtJNDY COUNTY 41$ 

He comes from German extraction and his grand 
father, Jacob Miller was an officer in the Colonial 
army. His father, Major Miller, was an officer in 
the American army in the war of 1812. His par-. 
ents died when he was quite young and he was left 
to shift for himself. Schools at that time were 
scarce, so most of his education was gotten in the 
wide "School of Experience." He was farmed out 
as it was then expressed, till he was of age and soon 
after the breaking out of the Civil war, he joined 
the Confederate army and was a courier for Gen. 
Robert E. Lee till the surrender at Appomattox. Af- 
ter the war he returned to Winchester and clerked 
in a store there for twelve years. He was united 
in marriage to Miss Laura Fowler, daughter of 
Hon. Robert Fowler, comptroller of the state of 
Maryland, December 10, 1874. His wife died some 
three years later leaving two children: Robert F... 
born Oct. 6, 1876, now in business in Baltimore, 
Maryland, and Albert P. jr., born January 9, 1878, 
now in business at Pittsburg, Pa. Soon after her 
death he came west and landed at Kirksville, Mo., in 
January, 1880, where he went into the mercantile 
business; from Kirksville he went to Milan, Mo., in 
Oct. 1881, and remained there until 1890. While 
residing at Milan he was married to Miss Cora M. 
Boynton, daughter of Judge Sumner Boynton, Dec. 
18, 1884. One son was born to them, Carrol B., 
May 10, 1890. His wife died in St. Louis, Decem- 
ber 12, 1904. 

Mr. Miller left Milan in 1890 and came to 
Trenton, Mo., and started the Racket store which 
he has since conducted. Mr. Miller is a successful 



414 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

business man and has a handsome home. In it is 
an old Colonial clock, olcler than the riation ifself . *At 
one time it was carried off by the British but was re- 
captured afterwards and became the property of 
his grandfather. 

CHAS. E. MOORE, a son of J. H. and Isabel 
Moore, was born near Spickard, Mo., Jan. 24, 1875. 
He was married Sept. 30, 1900, to Miss Lucy Lowry 
daughter of Rev. J. S. Lowry and niece of Dr. H. 
L. Lowry of Tindall, Mo. 

Mr. Moore lived on the farm until twenty-one 
when he went into the mercantile business at Bar- 
nett, la., as clerk for three years. He then came 
to Spickard, Mo., and worked with J. W. Wilson 
for three years, he and Wesley Brown then going 
to Tindall engaging in the mercantile business under 
the firm name of Moore & Brown. At the end of 
eighteen months he bought Mr. Brown's in- 
terest continuing the business alone. In May, 1908, 
he was joined by his brother, J. D. Moore, under 
the firm name of Moore Bros. Mr. Moore is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, also a member of 
the M. W. A. lodge and of the Baptist church. 

CHARLES M. MOORE is the son of Reuben 
and Abigail Moore; both his parents are dead. Mr. 
Moore was born in Madison county, Indiana, Aug- 
ust 6th, 1865. H^ "o^^' lives on route one, Trenton, 
Mo. He was married April 29, 1888 to Tisha George 
daughter of William George. They have two chil- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 41S 

drcn: Albert vM., bom August 5,^ 1889; Abbie, 
born Jan. 8, 1891, now at home. 

Mr. Moore moved with his parents to Grundy 
county when six years old and settled on a farm 
twelve miles northeast of Trenton. His mother 
died in Indiana when Mr. Moore was a small boy. 
His father died fifteen years ago on the old home 
place. Mr. Moore lived on the farm with his father 
until he was married and then he went to farming 
for himself in the same neighborhood. He sold this 
farm in 1903 and bought the farm he now lives on. 
It consists of two hundred and forty acres. He 
raises all kinds of stock but makes a specialty of 
sheep raising, having two hundred and thirty head. 
All of his family belong to the Christian church ex- 
cept Albert M. 

JAMES E. MERRIFIELD is a son of Dr. J. 
W. Merrifield. He was born at Pattonsburg, Mo., 
February 13, 1881. Mr. Merrifield took a course 
in Grand River College after completing the public 
school course. He married Miss Eula May Cline, 
September 29th, 1902. They have two children; 
Cecil, born November 26, 1903, and Boline, born 
April 6, 1905. Both children have unusual musical 
talent. 

Mr. Merrifield attended school till ten years 
old then learned the barber trade, at which he work- 
ed two years. He then re-entered school and re- 
mained until eighteen when he began soliciting for 
a portrait firm, working up from the lowest to the 
highest position until he was general manager for 
Southern Iowa and Northern Missouri. Mr. Mer- 



416 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY <?OUNT.Y.. 




rifield quit the road to enter college in 1901. In 
1903 he bought a partnership in the 
marble works of Cline, Nixon & Co., where he 
remained a little over a year. July 25, 1904, he 
bought the H. C. Sykes marble works, which busi- 
ness he now follows. Mr. Merrifield has built 
up an extensive trade, and keeps salesmen constant- 
ly on the road. He is secretary of the Missouri 
Retail Marble Dealers Association, and he belongs 
to the K. of P., the M. W. A. and W. O. W. 



J. G. MURPHY, son of John B. and Vina 
(Barr) Murphy, was born in Richland County, 
Ohio, April 29, 1859. He was married Sept. 2, 
1882, to Miss Alice J. Simmerman, daughter of 
Erastus Simmerman. She was born in Mercer 
County, March 16, 1867. 



HISTORY OF GRUNnY COUNTY 41T 

Mr. Murphy came to this county with his par- 
ents in 1865, settHng on the old Perkins place eight 
miles north of Trenton. He has lived there almost 
continuously since that time now owning a portioni 
of the old place. Mr. Murphy began farming for 
himself a few years before his marriage, living at 
home and farming adjoining land. He took up the 
carpenter trade at sixteen, which he has always fol- 
lowed in connection with farming. Mr. Murphy- 
deals in Duroc Jersey hogs, and grows a great 
quantity of fruit. 

Mr. Murphy belongs to the M. W. A. and Yeo- 
man orders. Both he and Mrs. Murphy are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church. They have eight 
children living, and one dead. Edna B., now Mrs. 
Mullican, of Ottumwa, was born Dec. 29, 1883; 
Blanche J., now Mrs. David Babcock, of Seymour, 
la., August 22,, 1885; Rachael E., Sept. 16, 1887;. 
Beulah M., now Mrs. John Colwell, March 3, 1889; 
Flossie A., June 16, 1892; Lora K., Feb. 9, 1894; 
Nellie P., Feb. 25, 1895; James Edson, April 28^ 
1897, died June 6, 1898; Lucy G., July 31, 1901. 

CHARLES MUFF was born at Miamsbury,. 
Ohio, December 24, 1868, and was educated in the 
public schools of Kansas City, Mo. He was married 
February 21, 1900, to Miss Bird Wait, of Trenton, 
Mo., daughter of John G. and Cora Wait. They 
have one daughter, born April 9, 1908. 

Mr. Muff was in Kansas City from 1869 until 
1892, when he went to Chicago, and was for three 
years a banker in that city. He then went to Gales- 
burg. 111., where he stayed a year, then to Alexica, 



418 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




CHAS MUFF 

Mo., then to Kansas City, and from there to Tren- 
ton, where he has hved for tweh^e years. For 
eight and a haU' years Mr. Muff was in the bakery 
business being compelled to give it up because of 
poor health. He was elected city collector in 1908, 
and now holds that office. In politics he is Re- 
publican. He is a good official and a courteous, 
affable P'entleman. 



SARAH A. NICHOLS, widow of Eli Nichols, 
who was accidently killed by a street car in Los 
Angeles, California, is the daughter of Joseph B. 
and Eliza (Colwell) Couch. She was l)orn in Hen- 
derson County, 111., April 26, 1S55. She and Eli 
Nichols were married Dec. 10, 189S. She has two 
daus'hters. 




MRS. SARAH NICHOLS 



426 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mrs. Nichols was raised within three miles o£ 
her present Dunlap home, and with the exception of 
ten years, spent in Kansas City educating her 
daughters, has always lived in that vicinity. She 
is a member of the Women's Relief Corps, and is 
in demand on occasions where public addresses are 
required, such as the ceremony of decoration of the 
unknown graves. It is her idea that great care 
should be given to the instilling of patriotism into 
the minds of school children. 

Mrs. Nichols was appointed postmaster of Dun- 
lap upon the resignation of L. Keener, and served 
with satisfaction to the public and credit to her- 
self. 

Upon the completion of the new court house 
Mrs. Nichols was selected to deliver an address on 
behalf of the people of Grundy County, which she 
did to the eminent satisfaction of the audience and 
of the people. 

CHARLES WILSON OVERMAN was born 
in Marion township, Grundy County, August 6, 
1858. He lives three miles south of Lindley. Mr. 
Overman was married to Sarah Josephine Neete, 
Jan. 2S, 1880. She was born October 2^, 1858. 
They have three children; Orpha Jane, born June 
7, 1881 : Ernest Wilson, Jan. 15, 1888; and Charles 
Clifton, Feb. 15, 1896. 

]\Ir. Overman is now living on the farm on 
which he was born. It is a fine tract, and contains 
three hundred acres. 

^-r. Overman's father was James Samuel 
Overman. His mother's maiden name was Robin- 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 421 

son. His wife is the daughter of Benjamin Terry 
Neete and Martha (Broyles) Neete. He is a Repub- 
Hcan in poHtics. 

A. E. PARKHURST is a son of John and 
Rebecca Parkhurst. He was born in Johnson Coun- 
ty, Indiana, June 25th, 1873, and came to Missouri 
in 1888. Mr. Parkhurst was married to Lila 
Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Powell, itf 
February, 1895. To them was born one son, Cecil, 
March loth, 1899. They moved to Laredo in 1897, 
Mrs. Parkhurst died in Arizona, February 17, 1903. 

Mr. Parkhurst was married to Ethel Woods, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Columbus Woods, Dec. 
24, 1905. To them was born one son, Wendell, 
March 10, 1908. 

Since moving to Laredo Mr. Parkhurst has 
been engaged in the lumber business. He is an 
Odd Fellow and a Chapter Mason. He takes an 
active interest in educational affairs and is a mem- 
ber of the Laredo school board. 

J. A. PATTERSON, son of John and Mary 
Patterson, was born May 27, 1883, on the old Pat- 
terson homestead, five miles east of Trenton, where 
his mother still lives. His father died eight years 
aeo. Mr. Patterson and Miss Florence Williams, 
daughter of John Williams, were married April 30, 
1905. They have one son, Floyd J., born March 
20, 1908. Mrs. Patterson was born in Morgan 
County, Ohio, May 5, 1884, and came to this coun- 
try with her parents when small. Her father lives 
nine miles east of Trenton. 



422 HISTORY OF GRLWDY COUNTY 

Mr. Patterson stayed at home until married, 
helping his mother to manage the farm after the 
death of his father. When married he bought his 
present farm, situated six miles southeast of Tren- 
ton. 

Mrs. Patterson is a member of the Baptist Church. 

W. E. PATTERSON, better known as "Ed," 
is a son of David and Margaret Patterson and was 
born in Trenton, Missouri, Dec. 19, 1874. He wa'^ 
educated in the public schools of this city and also 
took a course in Brown's Business College at Jack- 
sonville, 111. ( )n leaving school he was for five 
years employed as a clerk for Boyce, Nichols and 
Patterson ; at the end of that period, the firm hav- 
ing dissolved, the business was bought out by Air. 
Patterson and B. C. Nichols who conducted a shoe 
business in this city for eleven years. They then 
sold out that l)usiness to Robertson Brothers and 
started their present store of Men's Furnishings. 
The firm is composed of W. E. Patterson and B. C. 
Nichols. Mr. Nichols is at present postmaster of 
this city and the management of the store has been 
left to Mr. Patterson. They employ three clerks 
and carry an extensive stock. 

In 1898 in company with George Rice and 
Mark Selsor, Mr. Patterson made a trip to the gold 
fields of Alaska and was gone about a year, but 
still retained his luisiness interests here. They in- 
vested in some mines in that country, 1)ut later dis- 
posed of their interests there. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 423 

WILLIAM ELLIOTT PENNELL was born 
in La Plata, Mo., March 8, 1883. He spent his 
early life in Colorado and in Chariton County, Mo., 
near Keytesville on a farm until the age of ten, at- 
tended the primary department in the -old North Mis- 
souri Military Academy at Salisbury for awhile and 
moved with his parents to Cameron where he re- 
ceived the balance of his education in the Cameron 
High School. 

In 1898, soon after leaving school, he wxnt to 
work in the jewelry business under the veteran 
watchmaker and jeweler, C. A. Leibrandt, Jr. He 
came to Trenton in 1906 and became a member of 
the firm of Engle & Pennell. Early in 1909 he retired 
from the business and became the junior member 
of the Range Jewelry Company. Mr. Pennell is 
excellently qualified for the business in which he 
is engaged and is especially skilled in the repairing 
of high grade watches and chronographs, having 
had ten years experience on the highest grade of 
railroad watches. 

RALPH PHILLIPS w^as born in Kashockton, 
Ohio, March 19, 1839. He died January 24, 1905. 
Mr. Phillips was married to Martha A. Strow Janu- 
ary 18, 1874. She was a daughter of William Strow 
and was born in Pennsylvania, coming to Illinois 
then to Iowa and finally to Missouri. 

Mr. Phillips spent his early life in Ohio where 
he lived on a farm. At the outbreak of the war he 
joined the 51st Ohio volunteer infantry and served 
three and one half vears. He was severelv wound- 



42 i 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




R. C. PHILLIPS 



-ed at the battle of Chickamauga and discharged. 
Trying to re-enlist after a partial recovery, his ser- 
vices were refused on the grounds of physical dis- 
abilities. After the war he returned to Ohio where 
he remained until 1867 when he came to Livings- 
ton County, Mo., where he lived twenty years. He 
then moved to Grundy County to the farm now own- 
■ed by his widow. Mr. Phillips was a breeder of 
Short horn cattle and pure bred horses. Since his 
death his wife, son and daughter have managed 
the farm. 

His daughter, Jessie, was born April 4th, 1875. 
His son, Arthur, was born July 30th, 1878. Mr. 
Phillips was a member of the G. A. R. and a Mason. 
Mrs. Phillips belongs to the Methodist church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 425 

J. E. PRATT was born in Washington, Co., O., 
July 22, 1850. He lives in Marion township, two 
miles east of Dunlap. He received his education 
in the public schools of Ohio. Mr Pratt was mar- 
ried to Anna E. Kent, October 17, 1872. They 
have had five children, four of whom are living. 
Lucy E., was born in July 1873; B. S., Jan. 17, 
1878; Bessie J., died in infancy; C. A., March 19, 
1887; C. W., Feb. 25, 1889. 

Mr. Pratt moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1880. 
He came from Iowa to Missouri in 1892, and has 
lived in Grundy County since that time, devoting 
his attention to farming. He is a son of S. P. and 
Sarah (Chapman) Pratt. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat. 

CLAUDE E. RANGE was born in Trenton, 
Mo., March 6, 1871. He was married October 27, 
1897, to Miss Anna Carnes, daughter of the late 
J. B. Carnes. They have one child, Elizabeth, sev- 
en years old. 

Mr. Range is the son of James Range, one of 
the founders of the firm Fitterer, Hoffman & 
Range. His father died at the age of thirty three. 
Mrs. Range afterwards married Joseph L. Nichols, 
in 1876. Claude lived with them until he was of 
age ; he was educated in the Trenton public schools. 
Mr. Range graduated in the Winona Horo- 
logical School, in watchmaking, at the Chicago Op- 
thalmic College, in optics, and took a course in en- 
graving at the Chicago Horological Institute. For 
seven years he had charge of the repair department 



426 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




C. E. RANGE 

of J. L. Nichols' jewelry store. In 1S99 he moved 
to Denver to take charge of the optical department 
of the store of J. C. Bloom and Co., In 1902, Mr. 
Range returned to Trenton and bought out the 
store of J. L. Nichols, equipping it with new goods 
and fixtures. In 1909, the business, having great- 
ly expanded, was incorporated under the name of 
Range Jewelry Company, Mr. Range JDecoming 
president of the company. 

He was secretary of the State Jewelers Socie- 
ty for two terms, was president of the State Optical 
Association for the year 1907, and was delegate 
to both national associations during his term of 
office. In 1908, he was elected Exalted Ruler of the 
B. P. O. E., and is their delegate to the national re- 
union in Los Angeles in 1909. 

W. H. RENFRO, a son of J. C. and Susan 
Renfro, was born near Trenton, March 4, 1841. He 
now lives on route two. Mr. Renfro married Miss 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 427 

Louisa Witten, daughter of T. G. Witte.i. They 
have one child, Nanny M., now Mrs. L. C. Lem- 

ley 

' Mr Renfro moved with his parents to Mercer 

county when one year old. Here they stayed four 
years^hen moved to Trenton where Mr. Rentro, br. 
went into business. They stayed here till Mr. Ren- 
fro was twelve years old, then went to farmmg m 
Harrison township, where Mr. Renfro now owns a 
three hundred and twenty acre tract. 

Mr. Renfro was a member of the first mihtia 
company organized in this county for the Civil war, 
Company A, made up at Trenton and Chillicotlie, 
commanded by Captain Garvin and a part of Col. 
King's regiment. 

L. S. ROBB, son of J. M. and Jane Rol^b, was 
born in Morgan County, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1858. He 
lives on route two, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Robb was 
married in this county Feb. i, 1886, to Miss Mu'a 
Coit, daughter of R. B. Coit. They have four 
children. Airs. Robb was born in Portage County 
Ohio, coming with her parents to Grundy County 

when small. . 

Mr Robb came to Grundy County m 1865, with 
his parents, settling on the farm now owned by Er- 
nest Elliott, in the same neighborhood in which he 
now lives. When married, he bought the farm 
adjoining the home place and lived there a year. 
Selling that, he went to Laredo, where for a year 
he followed the business of manufacturing cheese, 
then bought his present farm, three and a half miles 
north of Laredo, to which he moved his plant. He 



428 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

quit the cheese business in 1905, since which time he 
has given his entire attention to farming. In ad- 
dition to his Grundy County farm, he has a farm of 
three hundred and twenty acres in Scott County, 
Kansas. 

HENRY W. ROH was born in Mobile, Ala- 
bama in 1863. In 1868, he came to Canton, Mo., 
and was educated in the schools of that city. He 
has lived in Trenton for twenty seven years, dur- 
ing the greater part of which time he has been in 
the drug business. He has followed that business 
for nineteen years. Mr. Roh was married twen- 
ty one years ago to Miss Mamie Fisher. 

At present, Mr. Roh is the senior partner of the 
firm Roh and Fair, which was established April i, 
1909. He is connected with many of Trenton's 
leading business enterprises. 

ERIC RUSK, son of J. N. and Amanda Rusk, 
was born in Liberty township, Grundy County, 
Nov. 23, 1879. He was married June 30, 1901, to 
Miss Nana Mae Hosom of Trenton, daughter of 
R. W. and Mary (McVeigh) Hosom . 

Mr. Rusk graduated in the Gait high school in 
1897, then took courses in the Kirksville Normal 
and Avalon College, after which he followed teach- 
ing for three years. He was then a traveling 
salesman until 1901, at which time he entered the 
mercantile business at Tindall. In 1905 he sold 
out, and made an extensive tour of the south and 
west. Returning to Gait, he worked awhile as 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 429 




ERIC RUSK 

head clerk in J. H. Berry's store, and in October, 
1908, bought the store, which is known as "The 
Leader." Mr. Rusk has several pieces of proper- 
ty in Gait. He is one of the youngest merchants 
in Grundy County, and handles an extensive line of 
general merchandise, occupying two floors of the 
largest business building in Gait. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rusk have one child, Gerald E., 
born in Tindall, July 7, 1902. Mrs. Rusk gradu- 
ated in the Trenton High School in 1898, and stud- 
ied music in Avalon Collegfe. 



'&' 



T. J. SAWYER is a son of H. H. Sawyer. 
He was born in this county, July 3, 1878, and now 
lives on route two, six miles south of Trenton. He 
was married March 11, 1900, to Fannie J. Bunnell. 
They have three children ; Charles Victor, born 
Nov. 30, 1901, Ethel Grace, born May 15, 1904, 
and Terry Harrison, born Dec. 3, 1905. Mrs. 
Sawyer was born in Sutherland, Iowa, in 1878, com- 



430 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

ing with her parents to this county in 1891. She 
is a daughter of J. T. and Ella Bunnell. 

Mr. Sawyer lived the usual life of a farmer boy, 
living with his parents until grown and married 
when he went to farming for himself. He lived 
near Spickard for a few years, and near Trenton 
for a short time. He also lived a short time in Ok- 
lahoma. He bought the farm he now owns in 1905. 

Mrs. Sawyer is a member of the Methodist 
Church. 

LEAa F. SCHLOTTERBACK was born in 
Vinito County, Ohio, July 11, 1(845. ^^^ lives on 
route one, Trenton, Missouri. Mr. Schlotterback 
was married Feb. 10, 1884, to Wilhelmina Vogel. 
They have four children ; Nathan P., Grace D., now 
Mrs. Goreth, Louie, and Lcla. 

Mr. Schlotterback left Ohio with his parents 
when al:)out eighteen months old, going to Iowa, 
where the family remained until i860, and from 
there to Livingston County, J\Io., making the trip 
with an ox team. In 1861 the family came to 
Grundy County, where they have since lived. Mr. 
Schlotter1)ack's father, George W. Schlotterback, 
was a carpenter liy trade. He is now se\'enty 
three years old, and makes his home with his son. 
Mr. Schlotterback's mother has been dead many 
years. He lived with his father until grown and 
married. He was in the saw mill business for a 
few years, going to farming in 1877. He rented 
for a few years, then bought a farm seven miles 
north of Trenton. He sold this farm, and in 1902 
bought the farm on which he now lives. He has a 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 431 

well improved tract of fifty acres, and does regular 
farming" and cattle raising. 

WILLIAM A. SHULLENBERGER, pastor 
of the Christian church of Trenton, was born at 
Shippensburg, R. I., June loth, 1881. After attend- 
ing the high school at Maryville, he went to Drake 
University, Iowa, where he graduated, holding A. 
M. and A. B. degrees. He was married to Miss 
Grace Tilton, of Grant City, a daughter of J. L. and 
Margaret Tilton, October 27th, 1908. 

Rev. ShuUenberger came with his parents to 
Maryville when a small boy. At the age of nine- 
teen he entered college, and entered the ministry in 
1904-5. He was pastor of the Christian church at 
Blockton, la., and at Grant City, Mo., coming to 
Trenton in March, 1908. 

Reverend ShuUenberger is an unusually strong 
as well as a popular young man, and he has accom- 
plished a great work in the church since his arrival 
in Trenton. 

CARLOS SCOTT was born in Grundy Coun- 
t}', January 13, 1874. His present home is in Mar- 
ion township. He was educated in the public 
schools of this county, and has never been married. 
Mr. Scott devotes his attention to farming and 
stock raising, and has a fine farm six miles south 
west of Gait. He is a son of W'm. B. Scott, who 
was born August 5th, 1835, and died June 10, 1901. 
His mother, Emma Scott, was born January 5th, 
1844. His sister, Cordia, born Dec. i, 1877, died 
July 26, 1907. Lucy, another sister, born Dec. 26, 



432 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

1882, died April 9, 1909; Delia, born August 18, 
1884, died March 3, 1906; He is a brother of 
Layton Scott, born July 27, 1875. Mr. Scott is a 
Republican in politics. 

F. R. SCOTT Was born in Daviess County, 
Mo., Feb. 16, 1871. He was married Dec. i, 1894, 
to Miss Ima J. Longstreth, daughter of John W. 
Longstreth. She was born in Grundy County, 
Dec. 22, 1877. They have two children; Bessie D. 
born Dec. 9, 1898, and Elmer W., born Nov. 2, 
1901. 

Mr. Scott began farming for himself in Daviess 
County when twenty one years old, remaining 
three years. He then came to Grundy County and 
bought his present one hundred acre farm, four 
and a half miles east of Trenton. On this farm he 
has lived since coming to Grundy County. 

]\Tr. Scott handles pure bred Jersey cattle and 
fine hogs. Both he and Mrs. Scott belong to the 
Baptist Church. 

LAYTON W. SCOTT was born in west Mar- 
ion township, Grundy County, July 27, 1875. He 
now lives a mile and a half south west of Dunlap. 
He was educated in the public schools of the county. 
On the 2 1 St of February, 1900, he was married to 
Miss Nettie Limes, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Will- 
iam Limes, prominent citizens of Marion township. 
Thev have no children. Mrs. Scott's father was 
born in the year 1842; her mother, Mrs. Limes,was 
born in 185 1. Mr. Scott is a son of W. B. and Em- 
ma Scott, and a brother of Carlos Scott. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 433 

He devotes his attention to agriculture and stock 
raising. He is a Republican in politics. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. Scott are active members of the Baptist 
Church. 

JOHN FRANK SEARCY was born in Mar- 
ion township, Grundy County, April lo, 1872. He 
lives five miles north east of Laredo. He was 
married December 19, 1894, to Era V. Chittum, 
who was born October 10, 1878. They have four 
children; Dora Permelia, born October 9, 1895; 
Wayne Yates, May 21, 1898; Victor Wallace, Dec. 
26, 1900, and Arthur Raymond, June 25, 1903. 

Mr. Searcy has a fine farm of two hundred and 
forty acres, eighty acres of which lies on the Sulli- 
van County side of the line. The land was entered 
by his father, William Brown Searcy, who was 
born Nov. i, 1827, and died April 26, 1909. He 
drove an ox team to California in 1850, returning 
to Grundy County in 1852. Mr. Searcy's mother, 
Permelia Idres (Yates) Searcy, was born in How- 
ard County, Jan. 15, 1832, and died Feb. 25, 1894. 

D. W. SMITH is the son of Samuel and Eliza- 
beth Smith. He was born in Grundy County, 
March 4th, 1870. He now lives east of Trenton. 
Mr. Smith was married Sept. 5, 1907, to Miss 
Maude Sims, daughter of Thomas and Caroline 
Sims. They have one child, Marion A., born Ap- 
ril 17, 1909. 

Mr. Smith's mother died when he was small, and 
his father remarried. He lived at home until 
fourteen, and from then on worked as a farm hand 



434 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

and in other capacities, being four years in the em- 
ploy of the Milwaukee road. He then returned to 
the farm with his brother-in-law, V. K. Meekens, 
with whom he lived until his marriage, and for a 
time after. On the death of Mr. Smith's father, Jan. 
25, 1909, since which time they have made their 
home with Mrs. Smith's mother, Mr. Smith took 
charge of the farm, which he is now managing. 
Mrs. Smith was born August 12, 1885. 



THOMAS SMITH, is the son of William and 
Nancy Smith. His father has been dead for thirty 
years, his mother is still living and makes her home 
with him. He was born two miles east of his pres- 
ent home in Grundy county, February 25, 1868. He 
now lives on route seven, Trenton, Mo. He was mar-, 
ried to Ada James, daughter of George James, Nov. 
15, 1899. They have three children; Theodore Man- 
ford, born Oct. 23, 1901 ; Rainey H. November 3, 
1903; Raymond Rad, March 21, 1907. 

Mr. Smith moved from his birth place with 
his parents to the farm on which he now lives when 
he was a small boy. His father died soon after- 
ward and he lived with his mother till he was mar- 
ried. He lived in Buchanan county in the year of 
1884. The farm on which he lives consists of 
eighty acres. He also has one hundred and sixty 
acres in Howell county. His father was one of the 
early Missouri pioneers coming here before Mis- 
souri was admitted to the Union. His mother came 
to Mercer county in 1844. Her maiden name was 
Young. She is now seventy-eight years old. 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 435 

L. H. TAYLOR, son of Robert and Nancy 
Taylor, was born in a log cabin on the farm which 
he now owns on route two, Trenton, Mo., Jan. i8, 
1849. He was married to Elizabeth G. Bonta, 
daughter of Samuel Bonta, an old settler, September 
28, 1875. They have three children: Claude B., 
born October i, 1876, who lives in Davenport, la.; 
Ora L., born July 22, 1878, fireman on the Rock 
Island and Raymond P., born Sept. 2, 1880, carrier 
on route eight, Trenton. Mrs. Taylor was born 
Oct. 25, 1854. 

Mr. Taylor has lived on his present farm all 
of his life save the year following his marriage 
when he lived just across the road from that farm. 
Robert Taylor, his father, a native of Maryland and 
one of the first settlers here entered the land, the 
title of which has never passed out of the Taylor 
family. The land was entered while Tyler was 
president. Robert Taylor died in 1892, his wife 
in 1895. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor belong to the 
Methodist church. 

DR. C. S. THOMAS is a son of Dr. J. P. 
and Catherine Thomas. His father has been 
dead six years; his mother lives in Laredo 
He was born at Alpha, Missouri June 9, 1874, 
and now lives in Dunlap, Missouri. On De- 
cember 20, 1903, he was married to Gertie Flagg, 
daughter of D. R. Flagg, of Laredo. They have 
three children; Dwight L. M., born January 7th; 
1904; Etha, November 13, 1905; Bernie C, July 
II, 1907. 

Dr. Thomas was born and reared at Alpha, his 



436 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




father being a physician at that place. When he 
was about fifteen, the family moved to Laredo, 
where his father continued the practice of medicine 
until his death. He attended the public school, Ava- 
lon College, Chillicothe Normal, and in the mean- 
time studied medicine with his father. He attended 
the University Medical College at Kansas City, 
completing the four years course and taking hi^ 
degree in 1902. He returned to Laredo and began, 
the practice of medicine, remaining there until in 
October, 1908, when he moved to Dunlap wherq 
he is now engaged in the practice of medicine and 
surgery. 

Dr. Thomas's father was an old resident of 
Grundy County, and was the oldest practitioner 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 437 

in the county at the time of his death. Dr. Thom- 
as is a member of the M. W. A. Both he and Mrs. 
Thomas belong to the Baptist Church. 

A. B. THOMPSON was born near Lindley, 
Keb. lo, 1872. He is a son of David and Sarah 
Thompson. He was married Dec. 27, 1899, to 
Miss Nettie Mumford, daughter of Decatur Mum- 
ford. They have three children; Dorothy O., 
born Oct. 20, 1900, Lynn B., born Nov. 25, 1901 : 
Truman C, born Nov. 27, 1905. 

Mr. Thompson began farming for himself a few 
years before his marriage, though living at home. 
After his marriage he moved to the Songer place, 
near his father's farm. He has managed that 
place since that time. In 1909 he leased the Dr. 
Asher farm of a hundred and sixty acres, three 
and a half miles east of Trenton. 

Mrs. Thompson was born in this county, August 
25, 1880. 

FATHER H. B. TIERNEY, "the Poet 
Priest," Rector of St. Joseph's Catholic Church of 
Trenton and of St. John's Church in Oilman, dur- 
ing his short stay here has won an enduring plac^ 
in the annals, of the county. He was born in St. 
Joseph, July 13, 1878 and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. 
Mark Tierney. After attending the high school 
at St. Joseph, he continued his studies in higher in- 
stitutions, and prepared himself for the priesthood. 
He was valedictorian of his class at St. Benedict's 
College, Atchison, Kansas, and dean of Kenrick 



438 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Seminary, St. Louis, and president of his class, 
completing a five years theological course afte^ 
finishing his classical education. 

During his school days, Father Tierney devel- 
oped ability as a writer, and before taking his theo- 
logical course, he followed the profession of journa- 
lism for a time on the staff of some of the leading 
dailies of the state. He writes verse principalh^ 
and is a contributor to the leading newspapers and 
magazines of this and other countries, including 
the Independent, Arena, New World, Detroit Free 
Press, London Times, the Irish World, N. Y. Post, 
the Louisville Courier Journal, the St. Louis Re- 
public, and others, including Catholic periodicals. 
He won the Danish prize, given by King Christi?- 
in commemoration of the meeting of the Dowager 
Empres:^ of Kussia and Oueei: Alexandria of iT.ng- 
land. Much of his poetry is of a religious nature 
some of his religious poems attracting wide at- 
tention. 

Father Tierney i,s yet a young ni;in, for whom the 
future holds great promise. He went to Brook- 
field in I90(>, and became pastor of the parishes of 
Trenton and Gilman January ist, 1907 He is a 
strong pulpit orator and highly popular in his par- 
ishes. 

DALE WALKER, is the son of Alonzo and 
Anna Walker. His father is dead, his mother lives 
at Four Corners, and is now Mrs. F. M. Fisher. 
He was born at Trenton, Mo., August 22, 1878. He 
now lives on route two, Trenton, Mo. He was 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 439 

married March 21, 1898, to Cora Sawyer, daugh- 
ter of H. H. Sawyer, of Trenton. 

Mr. Walker Hved in Trenton till sixteen years 
of age then went to farming, hiring out for several 
years ; at the age of twenty-one years he purchased 
a farm of his own, which consisted of eighty-six 
acres, near Spickards, Mo. He sold this farm and 
has since owned several farms, buying the one he 
now lives on in 1905. It consists of one hundred 
and eighty-five acres. He handles stock of all 
kinds, dealing most extensively in sheep. 

C. W. WEBSTER is the son of James and 
Elizabeth Webster. He was born in Grundy 
County, and lives two and a half miles south of 
Gait. He received his education in the public 
schools of this county. 

Mr. Webster was married in the year 1881 to 
Alice M. Shaney. They have six children, three 
boys and three girls. He is a minister in the 
Christian Church, a farmer, and in politics favors 
the Republican party. He is a man of excellent 
reputation, and commands the respect of the com- 
munity in which he lives. 

HENRY WETTSTEIN was born in Zurich, 
Switzerland, October 18, 1847. He was educated in 
Switzerland, coming to America in 1867. He lived 
at Canton, Mo., until 1874, when he came to Tren- 
ton and engaged in the wholesale beer and grain 
business, in which he remained for thirty years. 

Mr. Wettstein was married in Canton, Mo., in 
August, 1875, to Frederica Roh, who died in De- 



440 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




cember, 1885. He was married to Pauline Roh, at 
Quincy, 111., Dec. 10, 1887. 

Mr. Wettstein was for a number of years a 
member of the city council of Trenton and was 
mayor for four years. He owns several well locat- 
ed business buildings, is a director of the Farmers 
Exchange bank and the Trenton Coal Co., and is a 
stockholder in the ice plant, canning factory and 
other business enterprises. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wettstein have six children: 
Daisy B., Walter H., and Edgar L., from his first 
marriage and BerniceC, Clarence F., and Pauline 
F., from his second marriage. 



CLAUD WILLIAMS is a son of John W. 
and Martha Williams. He was born in Trenton, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 441 

where he now hves, Dec. i6, 1882, and was edu- 
cated in the schools of this city. He was married 
in the year 1903 to Stella Copher. They have two 
children, Juanita, and Vencil. 

Mr. Williams has spent all his life in Trenton. 
He followed hlacksmithing for ahout five years. 
He was made janitor of the Grundy County court 
house some time ago, and on account of efficient 
service was reemployed by the county court at the 
July meeting, 1909, now holding that position. 

T. L. WILLIAMS, a son of Sam and Matilda 
Williams, of Trenton, was born in Morgan County, 
Ohio, December 6, 1873. He was married Sept. 
II, 1895, to Miss Libbie Stewart, a daughter of 
James Stewart. They have two children ; Robert 
R., born Jan. 17, 1897, and Gerald R., born Dec. 
30, 1899. 

Mr. Williams came to Grundy County with his 
parents when tw^o years old. They settled on a 
farm near Trenton. He lived at home until mar- 
ried, when he went to farming for himself. He 
has leased several farms, taking charge of the old 
Norton farm five miles east of Trenton in February 
1902, where he has lived constantly since that time. 
Mr. Williams bought the farm, which consists of 
two hundred acres, in 1908, but later sold it, and 
and has now leased a portion of it. 

CLARENCE C. WILSON, son of J. H. Wil- 
son, w^as born in Daviess County, Oct. 18, 1875. He 
was married July 4th, 1900 to Miss Edna Spencer, 



442 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




daughter of L. D. Spencer, of this city. They have 
two children; Corwin, born January 26, 1904, and 
Spencer, April 21, 1902. 

Mr. Wilson worked four years for E. M. Mann, 
at Gallatin, and four years for M. E. Fitterer & 
Son, of Trenton. He then conducted a news stand 
for some months at Gallatin. After his marriage 
Mr. Wilson lived five months in Norman, Oklahoma 
then came to Trenton in October, 1900. He is pro- 
prietor of a grocery store on College Avenue. Mr. 
Wilson has served four years as a member of the 
city council. 



ROY YAMBERT, a son of R. W. and Susan 
Yambert, was born in Sullivan County, Mo., Jan. 
26, 1880. He lives on R. F. D. No. six, Trenton, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 443 

Mo. He was married to Miss Olive McGown, 
daughter of Samuel McGown, Nov. 7, 1907. They 
have one child, Vere M., born Sept. 15, 1908. Mrs 
Yambert was born in Nebraska, Oct. 24, 1888, and 
came to Grundy County in 1900. 

Mr. Yambert came with his parents to this coun- 
ty when two years old. They settled near Four 
Corners, where his father bought a farm, and 
where Mr. Yambert lived until his marriage. He 
leased the Ol Lay ton farm for one year, and in 
1909 leased the Urton farm near Four Corners. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Yambert are members of the 
Baptist Church. 

E. L. ANDERSON was born in Wilson town- 
ship, Grundy County, Missouri, December 20, 
1859. He was educated in the public schools of 
Alpha, Missouri. He is the son of H. H. Ander- 
son, born in Tennessee on March 26, 1838, and Ma- 
ry Ellen (Stephens) Anderson, born in Howard 
County, Missouri, August 8, 1845. 

Mr. Anderson now lives three and one half 
miles southeast of Laredo. 

He was married in December 1893 to Hattie S. 
Tolson, born August 31, 1876. They have two 
children; Goldie M., born November 9, 1895; and 
Snoda E.., born June 17, 1898. 

Mr. Anderson has been and is engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising on his farm of 109 acres. 

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the 
Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat. 



444 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




MR. AND MRS. W. A. ANDERSON. 

W. A. ANDERSON was born in Grundy 
County, February 14, 1844. Mr. Anderson lives 
five miles southeast of Laredo. He was married 
March 14, 1867 to Miss Hannah M. Woods. They 
had nine children, of w4iom seven are living. They 
are Nettie M. born May 31, 1869; John M, born 
September 26, 1871 ; Wm. Woods, born July i, 
1874; Vina F., born April 10, 1876; Leroy P., 
born March 28, 1880; Claybourn Fox, born De- 
cember 27, 1882; Bessie H. born June 22, 1884, 
Lloyd E. born January 27, 1889. 

The subject of the sketch began when quite 
young to obtain some of this worlds goods and at 
twenty-two, he bought 140 acres of his present 
farm and has since that time increased the size of 
his farm to 800 acres, a considerable part of which 
he has given to his children. He is one of the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 445 

oldest citizens born in Grundy County. Mr. An- 
derson is a stock-holder in the Citizens Bank of 
Laredo. The colts sired by his jack took the 
first premiums at the 1908 Fair of Grundy County, 
and also at the State Fair. He has one of the 
best stallions in this section of the country. 

Mr. Anderson was a son of W m. and Nancy 
(Lida) Anderson. Mr. Anderson's mother was 
the daughter of C. I. Woods, born in Kentucky 
in May, 18 16, and Rebecca (Miller) Woods, born 
in Kentucky on February 3, 181 5. 

Mr. Anderson is a member of the Baptist Church 

He is a Democrat in politics. 

W. A\\ ANDERSON son of W. A. and Han- 
nah M. (Woods) Anderson, was born in Wilson 
township July i, 1874. He lives six miles south 
east of Laredo . Mr. Anderson was married 
March i, 1899 to ]\Iiss Cora Hiskett, daughter of 
John M.. and Louise (Norvell) Hiskett. Mrs. 
Anderson was born February 24, 1877. They 
have three children. Vera C. w^as born June 13, 
1900; Wm. A^irgil was born February 3, 1902: 
Jack Murray, May 6, 1903. 

Mr. Anderson has spent his life thus far near 
his old birthplace. Upon his marriage he moved 
to a 115 acre \Mlson township farm given him by 
his father. Selling this farm he bought the farm 
on which he now^ lives in 1906. Mrs. Anderson 
after completing the public school course attended 
the Chillicothe Normal, Humphreys College and 
Avalon College. She was one of the county's best 



446 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



teachers, having taught twelve years in four 
schools. 




T. H. BEACOM. 



CLAUDE BELSHE, son of John C. and Mary 
A. Belshe, was born on the place where he now 
lives, on route three, Trenton, Mo., March 6, 1881. 
After completing the public school course he took 
courses in the Kirksville Normal, and Avalon Col- 
lege. Mr. Belshe was married December 25, 1901, 



448 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

to Miss Mabel B. Crawford, daughter of Judge H. 
C. Crawford. They have one child, Vivian Calvin, 
born March 12, 1903. 

]^.Ir. Belshe was raised on the old Belshe farm 
four miles southeast of Trenton. He bought one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, owning now three 
hundred and eighty acres, which includes three hun- 
dred acres of the old home place and an eighty acre 
just across the road. 

Mrs. Belshe is a member of the Christian 
church. 

J. B. BEXSCHOTEX was born in Racine, 
Wisconsin December 8, 1864. He was married 
X^ovember 26, 1892 to Miss Cassie Adkinson, the 
daughter of Andy Adkinson. They have one child 
Clyde R., born July 9, 1894. ^Irs. Benschoten was 
born in Tipton County, Indiana October 13, 1871, 
and came to Grundy County in 1888. 

When he was six years old, the parents of Mr. 
Benschoten moved from the city of Racine to a 
farm in Doon County, Wisconsin where he lived 
until seventeen vears old. He then went to Kos- 
suth County, Iowa where he lived about 7 years, 
his father having bought a farm there. His father 
then came to Livingston County in 1884, where he 
remained a vear. then leased a farm near Trenton. 
He then bought the Jones farm in the Paint Lick 
neighborhood. Shortly after, ^Ir. Benschoten be- 
gan farming for himself and later married. He 
leased the Shelton farm, then the James Pulliam 
farm and in loci the John Jones farm near Grundy 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 449 

Center where he now hves. In addition to the 
80 acres of the Jones farm, he has some land leased 
of Bert Goodson. 

FRANKLIN BRENNENSTUHL was born 
at Lancaster, Ohio, May i, 1864. He was mar- 
ried February 24, 1889, to Carohne Trump. They 
have five children. Their names are Jesse, 
born February 9, 1893; Mabel, born August 
2y, 1896; Herman, born October 27, 1898; Min- 
nie, born April zj, 1901 ; Bernice, born December 
I, 1903. 

Mr. Brennenstuhl came to Missouri from Ohio 
with his parents in 1870 settling in Grundy county. 
He was reared on a farm and lived at home until 
grown and married, then went to farming for him- 
self. He lived on and owned a farm four miles 
northeast of Trenton. He sold that and bought a 
farm near the Poor Farm in 1903, where he moved 
dying there in 1906. Since that time his widow 
and her elder son Jesse have run the farm, which 
consists of 160 acres at the home place and fifteen 
acres of timber near the home place, 175 acres in 
all. The farm is well improved. 

Mrs. Brennenstuhl was born in Grundy County, 
near Tindall, December 30, 1863. Her father 
Leonard Trump, was one of the earliest settlers of 
the county and still lives at Tindall. 

NORTON BURKEHOLDER, cashier of the 
Bank of Spickard, is a son of Hon. A. H. and Re- 
becca Burkeholder, of Trenton. He was born 
March 2, 1870. He married Sarah J. Wolz, June 



450 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




II, 1903. They have three children, Ehzabeth. 
Nadine, born August 21, 1904; Martha Bhss, 
born April 5, 1906 and John Hudson, born April 
27, 1909. 

Mr. Burkeholder was chief clerk of the Rock 
Island shops at Trenton from January, 1892 to July 
1 90 1. From 1 90 1 to 1903 he was employed in 
the superintendent's office as chief timekeeper of 
the southwestern division. August 14, 1903, he was 
elected cashier of the Bank of Spickard, which posi- 
tion he now holds. This bank is one of the oldest 
banks of the county, being organized in 1888. 

G. O. BURTCH was born in Linn County, 
Missouri, October 4, 1869. He is the son of John 
H. Burtch, and Ann E. (Greer) Burtch. He was 
educated in the public schools of Linn County. He 
now lives in the south east corner of Grundv. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 451 

He was married to Minnie Barthol. They have 
three children John R., Robert and Tommy. 

Mr. Burtch began his Hfe's work when he was 
eighteen, buying his first forty acres, and from the 
beginning accumulating a large farm containing 
1 60 acres in Grundy County and 120 in Linn. He 
deals in stock of all kinds. 

In politics he is a Republican. 

C. C. CARPENTER, son of R. K., and Sarah 
(Moore) Carpenter, old settlers in Grundy County, 
was born ten miles northeast of Trenton, February 
12, 1863. He lives on route nine, Trenton, Mo. Mr. 
Carpenter was married April 8, 1888, to Miss OUie 
Bolsor, daughter of Theodore Bolser, an early set- 
tler. She was born in this county May 5, 1866, on 
the farm her father entered. 

Mr. Carpenter was reared on a farm near 
where the Starlight postoffice was once located. 
When he was married he went to farming for him- 
self, buying the Nate Harris farm, later buying 
other land and now has one hundred acres on which 
he lives. He devotes most of his attention to sheep 
raising. All of the stock on his farm is eligible to 
register. He handles shorthorn cattle and fine 
Berkshire hogs, recorded Morgan and standard 
bred horses, having some which he brought from 
Louisville, Ky., their sires being prize winners 
at the World's Fair. 

Mr. Carpenter is an Odd Fellow. He owns 
stock in a number of banks. Farmers Exchange 
Bank, Gait State, and is one of the directors at the 
bank at Tindall, also Dunlap State Bank and Bank 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 453 

of Brimson. He helped to organize the Citizens 
State Bank at Carnegie, Okla., and is a stockhokler 
in a new bank at Oklahoma City. He also helped 
to organize the Bankers Loan and Trust Company 
of Oklahoma City which has a capital of $500,000. 
R. O. CARPENTER, was born in Grundy 
County near Four Corners, November 29, 1866. 
Plis parents were B. W. and Sarah Carpenter, 
both of whom are dead He was born and reared 
on the farm and lived there with his parents until 
grown, when he married .i^id went to farming fnr 
liimself. He was married to Miss Effie Griffith, 
in November 189T. vShe was the daughter of VV'ni. 
Griffith, and was born jMarch 27, 1872, in Indiana 
and came to Missouri in 1884. They have o'le 
rjiild, Mabel E., born June 21, 1895. 

Mr. Carpenter leased, for two years after his 
marriage, then bought a farm near C. C. Carpen- 
ter's vvhere he lived tor al^out six years. Bio tlieu 
bovigJit his present farm nine miles northeast of 
Trenton in Lincoln township, where he has since 
lived. It consists of 70 acres, well improved, good 
orchard, splendid out-buildings and fine home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter belong to the Christian 
Church. 

BEN K. CHASE, son of Wm. H. Chase, was 
born at Arrow Rock, Saline county. Mo., January 
23rd, 1861. He was married to Anna Adamson, 
of Centerville, la. 

His father fought for the Union cause, enlist- 
ing in the 45th Illinois regiment, while the family 



454 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

went to St. Louis. While the father was in the 
army their home was burned, and the family went 
to Decatur, 111., where they lived until the close 
of the war. They then went to St. Joseph and 
lived there until Mr. Chase's father died, in 1867, 
from injuries received in the war, and in 1868 they 
moved to a farm near where Spickard now is. Here 
the mother and four children lived until after the 
town was founded, and the children attended school 
at Spickard. At twelve Mr. Chase went to work 
for N. F. Munn in the mercantile business, and re- 
mained two years. He worked two years for O. P. 
West in a drug store, and four years in a shoe and 
harness store for I. J. Godfrey, where he learned the 
shoemaker trnde. He then bought the shoe busi- 
ness which he ran for a year and formed a partner- 
ship with R. M. Crockett. He afterwards sold out 
and went to Seattle, Washington, and stayed nearly 
three years in the docks, working at ship building. 
He then came to Trenton and was in the employ of 
the Rock Island two years, then went into the 
restaurant business which he followed eight years, 
selling out to Dode Smith, the present proprietor 
of the Elm street restaurant and bakery. Mr. Chase 
then established a confectionery store, which he af- 
ter wards sold, worked for awhile with Palmer Bros, 
in the furniture business, and recently became a 
member of the grocery firm of Daniels and Chase. 

G. W. CLARK was born in Montgomery coun- 
ty, Ky., December 2y, 1844. He now lives four mile 
north of Laredo. Mr. Clark was married on the 
eighth of October, 1874, to Miss Helen White, who 



5S 

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5 

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456 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

was born Oct. 1 1, 1850, and died February 14, 1903. 
Two children were born to them: Roscoe C, born 
Sept. 27, 1877; and NeUie B., Oct. 16, 1880. Mr. 
Clark was married to Miss Nora E. Lilly, May 3, 
1908. 

He left Kentucky when he was twenty-one 
years old, and settled on the beautiful farm where 
he now lives. He is an excellent farmer and stock 
raiser, and an active worker in the Christian church. 
In politics he is Republican. Mr. Clark's father, 
James M. Clark, was born April 15, 1804, and died 
Sept. 22, 1870. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Elizabeth Clyce, was born May 9, 1816, and 
died Oct. 26, 1872. 

SEWARD M. CLINKENBEARD is a son 
of George \\\ and Susan C. Clinkenbeard, both of 
whom are dead. He was born in Mercer County, 
September 19, 1847. ^^ I'^o^'^' lives on route six 
Trenton, Mo. He was married September 15, 1872 
to Miss Mary J. Buis, daughter of Greenberry Buis 
They have had eight children, seven of whom are 
living. George W. born September 11, 1873, lives 
at Gilman; Alfred M., born March 25, 1875 lives 
in Harrison County. Minnie D., born April 15, 
1877, died Jan. 5, 1883; Chas F., born March 18, 
1879, now lives in Trenton. Clara B., born 

April 29, 1 88 1, now Mrs. John Wooderson, lives 
in Harrison County. Albert Lee was born January 
7, 1884. Ora M. born May 5, 1886, is now Mrs. 
Frank Clinginsmith of Farmersville. Sarah Katie 
was born July 7, 1889. Mrs. Clinkenbeard was 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 457 

born October 22, 1852 in Putnam County, Indiana, 
coming to Harrison County at the age of three. 

Mr. Chnkenbeard went with his parents to Iowa 
when about five years old, going from there to Har- 
rison County, Missouri, eighteen months later, 
where he lived until grown. He remained in 
Harrison County until fifteen years after his mar- 
riage, coming to Grundy County in 1888. He first 
lived just north of Trenton, leasing several farms 
in the meantime. In 1904, he leased the James 
Pulliam farm, one and three fourths miles north of 
Grundy Center church in Lincoln township. 




E. W^ COOK 



ED W. COOK, son of E. A. and Mary J. Cook 
was born in Grundy County near Laredo, Septem- 
ber 2nd, 1868. He was married to Sallie M. 



458 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Schooler, December 23rd, 1888. They have but 
one child, Kenneth C, born August 31, 1901. 

Mr. Cook moved with his parents to Spickard 

when about ten years of age, where he worked 

in his father's store. In 1888 he assisted in the 

organization of the Bank of Spickard, was elected 

cashier in 1894, and served until 1903, when he 

sold his interest in the bank. He was instrumen- 

in organizing the Farmers and Merchants 

Bank, was its cashier in 1903 and 1904, resigning 

on account of other interests. He is a leading 

business man of Spickard. 

ALONZO DAVENPORT, son of Wm. and 
Thirza (Bacon) Davenport, of Marietta, Ohio, was 
born March 17, 1848. He now lives six miles south 
east of Laredo. Mr. Davenport was married Nov, 
3, 1870, to Miss Charlotte Jane Grimes, daughter 
of James and Mary Grimes. Mrs. Davenport was 
born April 13, 1853. They have had sixteen chil- 
dren. Mary J. was born Jan. 4, 1872; James W., 
Jan. 14, 1873; Lucy Bell, Jan. 26, 1874, died Oc- 
tober 26, 1874; Lily M., July 23, 1875; Leona M., 
born Oct. 26, 1877 and died March 13, 1879; Willis 
M., Feb. 27, 1879; Emma E., Nov. 14, 1880; Nancy 
v., Jan. 7, 1882, died Dec. 14, 1893; Gregory G., 
Aug. 4, 1884; Perlina B., Sept. 20, 1S86; Robert O., 
Sept. 20, 1886, died Aug. 15, 1887; Josie F.. April 
29, 1888; two died in infancy, born April 13, 1890 
and died April i8th and 20th of thit year. Lydia 
M., Feb. 8, 1892; John Rufus, Sept. 3, 1894. 

Mr. Davenport cnme from Tov -^ n^ith his f-^ther 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 459 

in 1855, settling first in Livingston County. They 
moved to Sullivan in 1865, and he remained there 
with his father until he was married. On his mar- 
riage, he moved on one forty of the two hundred 
and eighty acre farm he now owns. Mr. Daven- 
port is a director in the Farmers and Merchants 
Bank of Chula. 

J. W. DUDLEY, son of Andrew and Elizabeth 
Salina (Clevenger) Dudley, was born in Randolph 
County, Indiana, July 9, 1874. Mr. Dudley lives 
five miles southeast of Laredo. He was married 
Feb. 26, 1899 to Miss Emma Bartholamew, the 
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Bartholamew. 
She was born January 27, 1880. 'Mr. and Mrs. 
Dudley have two children, Oscar R., born December 
17, 1902, and Anderson R., born April 15, 1904. 

Mr. Dudley came from Indiana to Grundy County 
in 1882. He has always given his entire attention 
to farming. He lived in Linn County for six years 
then came to his present place in the year 1905. He 
is a Republican in politics. 

E. E. E. ELLIOTT, son of EHjah and Dorcas 
Elliott, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 
20, 1849. He was married in Ohio, Aug. 25 1870, 
to Esther M. Barnard, daughter of John Barnard. 
They have nine children living, and two dead. 
Clarence J. was born Aug. 12, 1871, and died Jan. 
13, 1872; Harry T., born Dec. 23, 1872, lives in 
Ark; John F., born March 17, 1875, lives in Laredo; 
Jessie R., born Nov. 9, 1876, now Mrs. Enos Strode, 
lives in Washington; Effie D., born Aug. 30, 1878, 



460 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

now Mrs. Lucian Eveland, of South Dakota; Jason 
L., born July 28, 1880, lives near his father; Wm. 
O., March 8, 1882, lives in Selma, Cal; Selah H., 
was born June 29, 1885; Freeman D., Feb. 2, 1887, 
died Oct. 16, 1890; Elmer R., Dec. 31, 1889; Edith 
E. Dec. 30, 1897. Mrs Elliott was born April 7, 
1 85 1, in Morgan County, Ohio. 

Mr, Elliott worked on his father's farm until 
eighteen when he entered a wagonmaker's shop, 
learning the trade and remaining three years. He 
then began farming, coming to Grundy County in 
1873, where he lived on "Illinois Ridge" for a year, 
then bought the farm he now owns, a half mile 
east of Rural Dale Church and seven miles east of 
Trenton. His farm contains a hundred and sixty 
five acres, well improved, with a good home. 

He makes a specialty of raising Delaine sheep. 

J. A. FAIR, a son of Thomas and Nancy Fair, 
was born near Avalon, Livingston County, Mo., 
November 20, 1875. He attended school at Avalon 
college. Mr. Fair was married May 11, 1903, to 
Miss Hallie Bain, daughter of Jesse Bain, of Tin- 
dall, Mo. They have had one child which died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Fair came to Trenton in 1892. He taught 
school for several years. He worked in a drug 
store at Raymour, near Kansas City, for three 
years, then came to Trenton. He began work for 
Roh & Kathan in 1903 and remained with them 
three years, when he took a pharmacy course at 
Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa. Af- 
ter completing this course he went to work for Ben 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 461 

J. McGuire and remained there two 3'ears, when he 
went into business for himself as a member of the 
firm Roh & Fair. This firm does an extensive 
business and their store is an ideal one for a city 
of ten thousand. 

C. L. FICKLE was born in Wilson township 
October 16, 1868. He lives four and one half miles 
southeast of Laredo. IMr. Fickle was married to 
Nina E. Woods, April 13, 1873. They have no 
children. Mr, Fickle is a son of Daniel Fickle one 
of Wilson township's best pioneers who was born in 
Indiana, January 27, 1833 ^^^^ ^^^^ April 13, 1901. 
His mother whose maiden name was Anna M. Bar- 
nett, is a native of Ohio. Mrs. Fickle is a daught- 
er of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Woods. 

Mr. Fickle left the farm in 1887, embarking in 
the hardware business at Laredo with the firm of 
C. C. Fickle and Co., He remained in this business 
until 1892, then moved to the Barnett farm five mile 
north of Laredo. In 1894, he moved to the G. A. Mc 
Kay farm west of Laredo, bought the John Cook 
farm east of Laredo in 1897, living there until 1900, 
when he moved to the fine farm of 280 acres where 
he now lives. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
lodge of Laredo. 

HARVEY GINN, a son of James and Susan 
Ginn, was born at Newcastle, Indiana, Oct. i, 1848. 
He was married about 1868 to Sarah Ayers, of Put- 
nam county, who died in 1871. He was married to 



462 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Miss Retta L. Lanius, daughter of Henry C. Lan- 
ius, July 4, 1883. 

Mr. Ginn left Indiana with his parents when 
eight years old, coming to Putnam county, Mo. He 
lived on a Putnam county farm until twenty-three 
years old, coming to Trenton in October, 1S71. He 
entered the employ of the Rock Island in the con- 
struction department, then in the machine shops. 
Leaving the shops, he became brakeman and then 
conductor, serving as conductor twenty-six years, 
and retiring in 1900. He is still a member of the 
O. R. C. Since retiring from the railroad's service 
Mr. Ginn has followed the real estate and insurance 
business, principally the latter. 

JOHN BASS KEITH, of Spickard, a son of 
Stephen H. and Mary Keith, was born in Franklin 
township March 10, 1859. Mr. Keith and Miss 
Leota Minter, daughter of Sam Minter, were mar- 
ried March 31, 1883. They have three children; 
James O., born October 13, 1888, now teaching at 
Spickard; Carrie, May 4, 1891, and Clifford M., 
August 5, 1895. 

Mr. Keith farmed until twelve years ago, when 
he moved to Spickard, where he went into the real 
estate, loan and insurance business, which he has 
since followed. He has served as justice of the 
peace, nine years as township collector, and takes 
an active part in public affairs. Mr. Keith is a 
republican and a local leader, though a politician 
only in the higher sense of the term. 

DR. HENRY L. LOWRY, of Tindall, is a son 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



461 




of John W. Lowry. He was born in Mercer county, 
July lo, 1868. He and Maude Proctor, daughter of 
Brook Proctor, of near Tindall were united in mar- 
riage December 24, 1896. 

Dr. Lowry Hved in Mercer county during his 
boyhood. Before taking his medical work, he 
graduated in Grand River College, taking a B. S. 
degree, in 1889. He taught school for thirteen 
years, reading medicine in the meantime. His last 
work in teaching was as Principal of the school at 
Winston. He attended the medical college at Keo- 
kuk, la., for two years, and Barnes University, St. 
Louis, two years, graduating from the latter in- 
stitution in 1904. He practiced medicine in the 
town of Topsy six months, then came to Tindall 
where he has since been. He has a large practice 



464 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

and is especially successful in the treatment of dis- 
eases of women and children. — 

Dr. Lowry is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and an 
ordained minister in the Baptist church. He is 
actively engaged in Sunday school work. He is an 
ordained minister in the Baptist church. 

JAMES MACK was born in Lanrickshire 
Scotland, March 23, 1825. He now lives on route 
six, Trenton, Mo. He was married May 19, 1850 
to Alpha LawTence. They have had ten children, 
four of whom died in infancy. 

Mr. Mack's father died in 1842, and in 1844, he 
came to America with his mother and other mem- 
bers of the family, coming first to Illinois. He 
remained there until the fall of 1865 when he came 
to Grundy County, his mother dying just previous 
to this time. He bought a farm near Farmers- 
ville, rented the Riley Cox farm on Honey Creek 
five years, the Overton farm one year, sold out, 
lived on the Pulliam farm two vears, then bought 
the farm where George Lanz now lives. Mrs. 
Mack died about 1898. Since that time, Mr. Mack 
has lived with his son, Otis. 

The children living are H. C, near Gait, born 
March 2t„ 185 i ; M. T. near Dunlap, April i, 1854; 
W. W. near Farmersville, May 15, 1856; O. E., 
Four Corners, Dec. 20, 1862; Geo. F., near Four 
Corners, Dec. 5, 1865 ' ^^- J-' '^ow Mrs. Matt Trump 
of near Tindall, Oct. 7, 1869. 

JACOB MANG, son of George and Anna 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 465 

Mang, was born in Germany, at the head of the 
Rhine, Aug. i6, 1878. He now Hves on route 
six, Trenton, Mo. He was married March 10, 
1907, to Miss Bertha B. Cox. Mrs. Mang was 
born in Mercer, County, Feb. 11, 1879. 

Mr. Mang came to this country when two years 
old, his people coming direct to Grundy County. 
They first settled near Spickard, where they farm- 
ed twelve years, then moved to south Missouri, an4 
remained five years. They have lived east of 
Trenton since their return. Mr. Mang began farm- 
ing for himself just before his marriage, occupying 
a farm not far from his father's farm, near Four 
Corners. He then lived on the Charles Neely 
farm near Grundy Center church until 1908, when 
he bought his present farm, three and a half miles 
north east of Trenton. He does general farming 
and handles considerable fruit. His farm is well 
improved, and he has a good home. He belongs 
to the W. O. W. Both he and Mrs. Mang are 
are members of the Methodist Church. 



C. F. McLaughlin was bom in St. Joe 
County, Indiana on March 27, 1847. He now re- 
sides two and one half miles southeast of Spickard 
on Route 1. His father was Robert McLaughlin, 
born in 1801, died in 1864, and his mother was Lu- 
cinda (Shaw) McLaughlin, born in 1818, died in 
1878. 

He was married to Lavina Jane Coldiron, Jan. 
20, 1867. She was born in Virginia, Sept. 8, 1847. 



466 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Her parents were Isaac Coldiron and Mary (Gilla) 
Coldiron, both natives of Virginia. 

They have had eleven children, eight of whom 
are living. William, was born in Mercer County, 
Oct. 26, 1867; Isaac F., Elizabeth; Loren, Aug. 
1877; Robert, Jan, 1880; Eva, 1882; Clara, 1884; 
Stella, 1886; Henry, 1885, died the same year; Har- 
rison, 1893, died 1896. 

Mr. McLaughlin came with his parents when 
he was five years old to Iowa, where they lived four 
years. In 1856 they came to Mercer County and 
settled on a farm. He stayed there with his mother 
until May 18, 1864 when he enlisted in Co. C. 23 
Mo. for three years. He was at the siege of Atlan- 
ta, marched to the sea with Sherman and fought 
in the battle of Jonesboro, South Carolina. He 
marched through the Carolinas, to Richmond, then 
to Washington, D. C. and then to Louisville, where 
he was mustered out. He was discharged at St. 
Louis. He then went home to Mercer County, mar- 
ried after two years and farmed there until 1882 
when he bought his farm on which he lives at pres- 
ent. It contains 160 acres. 

Mr. McLaughlin is a Republican in politics and 
a member of the Christian church. 

FREDERICK MARTIN was born in Monroe 
County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1840. He is the son of 
Michael Martin, born Oct. 30, 1807 and died Oct. 
30, 1877 and Rhoda (Crow) Martin, who was born 
in Ohio in 1816 and died Apr. 23, 1892. He now re- 
sides on Route 1, Spickard. Mr. Martin was married 
to Elvina Legg May 25, 1867. She was born in 1849. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



467 



They have one child, Charles S., born Jan. 13, 1869. 
Mr. Martin came to Grundy County with his 
parents in 1859 and settled within four miles of 
where he now lives. He farmed with his parents 
until the breaking out of the Civil War when he 
enlisted in Co. C. 23rd Mo. Infantry for three years. 
After the three years he enlisted in the 9th U. S. 
D. V. I. and served until the 11th of June, 1866, 
when he returned to his old home. He fought in 
the battle of Shiloh and was taken prisoner and 
held for six months at Libby prison. He was in 
the siege of Atlant and was discharged at Atlanta, 
Sept. 22, 1864 Comnig home he joined the U. S. 
troops and served until June 11, 1866. Returning 
to the farm he farmed for five years, then he worked 
for the Rock Island for a time. He then bought 
the farm on which he now lives. 




RESIDENCE OF ALISON NICHOLAS. TRENTON 



468 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



MRS. LUCY MOORE was born in Grundy 
County, March 7, 1869. She now resides one and 
one half miles west of Spickard on Route 2. Her 
father was Charles Perry, born in Indiana, July 
8, 1842 and her mother was Sarah Newton Peery, 
born in Missouri, Feb. 25, 1843. She was married 
to J. M. Moore, March 15, 1888. 

J. M. Moore was born in Grundy County, Ocr. 
11, 1867 and died May 26, 1907. His father was 




J.M.MOORE 



John Moore, born in Missouri, Sept. 14, 1822, and 
his mother was Mary (Flowers) Moore, born in 
Tennessee, in 1832, died June 6, 1902. Mr. Moore 
was a member of the Christian church, I. O. O. F , 
K. of P. and D of R. lodges. He was a Republican. 
At his death he was president of the Gait Telephone 
Co. and of the Township Board. His father, "Unch 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 469 

Jacky Moore," is the oldest living settler of Grundy 
County. Mrs. Moore has a farm of 115 acres. 

R. J. MOORE was born in Mercer County, 
Mo., Oct. 29, 1856. He now resides four miles 
southwest of Spickard on Route 4. His father was 
Daniel Moore of Virginia who came to Missouri 
about sixty-five years ago and was one of Grundy 
'County's school teachers. His mother was Marv 
J. (Flowers) Moore, who died in Grundy County 
in 1902. She was then the wife of Uncle Jacky 
Moore, Grundy County's oldest settler. 

Mr. Moore was married to Malinda McLaugh- 
lin, Dec. 26, 1883. Her father was Dr. John Mc- 
Laughlin, born Aug. 18, 1822, died Aug. 11, 1909. 
Her mother was Nancy Jane (Sullivan) McLaugh- 
lin. Mrs. Moore was born in Mercer County, Sept. 
22, J 861. They have had eight children, six of 
v/hom are living. Mintie, born Oct. 27, 1883 mar- 
ried Arthur Newton; Lovie, May 11, 1886, mar- 
ried John Moore; J. D., July 28, 1889; Ray, Dec. 
29, :!892; Garnett, May 28, 1902; and Clyde, Aug. 
.26, -904. 

Mr. Moore is a member of the Christian church 
and a Republican. He is a member of the M. W. 
A. lodge. 

He began working for himself at the age of 
twenty-four and soon after his marriage he bought 
40 acres of the farm he now owns. Since then he 
has accumulated until he has a farm of 230 acres. 
He is a progressive citizen and a member of one of 
.the two oldest families in Grundy County. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 471 

DR. T. E. MOORE, son of J. B. and Mary E. 
(Easley) Moore, was born in Linneus, Linn Coun- 
ty, Missouri, Feb. 15, 1878. His parents moved to 
Grundy County when he was three years old, and 
lived in Grundy County for three years, thence 
moving to Chillicothe, Mo., at which place Dr. 
Moore received his public school education. He lived 
there until the age of sixteen when his parents again 
moved to Grundy County. He entered Grand River 
Christian Union College at Edinburg in 1895 and 
graduated in 1898, 

He entered the medical department at the 
University of Missouri in Sept. 1899 and graduated 
with the degree of M. D. in June 1903. 

Dr. Moore was awarded the Rollins Scholar- 
ship in his Junior year for the highest average 
grades of his class and was given an Interneship 
on graduation for the highest average grades of 
his class for the four year medical couse. 

He took post graduate work in the medical 
department of Cornell University in the summer of 
1903 and hospital work in Parker Memorial Hospi- 
tal Sept. 1903 to Sept. 1904. 

He began private practice at Edinburg in Nov. 
1904, at which place he still resides. 

He was married to Pearle W. Woodress, 
daughter of James A. Woodress, June 6, 1906. 

Dr. Moore is a member of Edinburg I. O. O. 
F. lodge No. 394 and is a Democrat. 

HUGH NICHOLS, son of William and Rach- 
ael (Gerrick) Nichols, was born in Fort Wayne, 
Ind., Aug. 30, 1862. He now lives on Route 7, 



472 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Trenton. He was married March 10, 1891 to Bash 
Bushong, daughter of Matthew and Zelda Bushong. 
Mrs. Nichols was born in Harrison County, Sept. 
25, 1873. She came to Grundy with her parents 




WILLIAM NICHOLS 



when a small child. 

Mr. Nichols came to Grundy County with his 
parents in 1869, settling in Taylor township. He 
lived there until he was grown. After his marriage 
he went to farming for himseh'. He leased land 
for a few years, then in 1895 bought the old home 
place of 160 acres, where he lived for four years. 
He then rented his farm and went to Colorado 
where he worked at the carpenter trade for three 
years. He then returned to Grundy County and 
moved on the Bushong place, belonging to his wife's 
grandfather, and also managed his own farm. The 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 473 

Bushong place consists of 280 acres in Harrison 
township nine miles northwest of Trenton. He al- 
so bought 140 acres adjoining the Bushong farm 
on the northwest. In the fall of 1908 he sold the 
old home place. He handles Berksire hogs, Shrop- 
hire sheep, owns a celebrated jack and thorough- 
bred Percheron horse. He is a member of the Odd 
Fellows lodge. The family belong to the Baptist 
church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have one child, Alma E., 
"born Jan. 25, 1892, w^ho is at home. 

J. G. NICH^OLS was born in Morgan County 
Ohio, April 27, 1857. His father, Eli Nichols, was 
born in Ohio, Sept. 14, 1832 and died March 28, 
1906. His mother, Mary (McCreary) Nichols, was 
born June 10, 1836 and died in April, 1875. Mr. 
Nichols now resides four and one half miles north- 
east of Spickard on Route 3. 

He married Miss Eva Dye on Jan. 11, 1881. 
Her father was M. C. Dye, born in Ohio, July 6, 
1833, died Nov. 6, 1908, and her mother was Elea- 
nor (Gillogly) Dye, born in Ohio, Oct. 4, 1834, died 
May 25, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have had 
five children, one of whom died in infancy. Those 
living are: Lillie, born Sept. 2, 1881, married Char- 
les V. Tharp; Ida, June 24, 1885, married J. W. 
Dean; Edward D., Nov. 15, 1887 married Anna 
Husted; and Nellie, Nov. 15, 1896. Mrs. Nichols 
was born in Noble County, Ohio, July 17, 1860. 

Mr. Nichols came from Ohio with his parents 
when he was ten years old. At the age of twenty- 
two he rented the Ben LeHew farm just five miles 



474 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



east of Trenton. He lived there two years and then 
bought the Oalc Grove. Jac': Farm on whicti 
he now hves, and which consists of 160 acres. Mr. 
Nichols makes a speciality o fraising fine jacks and 
is at present, the owner of Napoleon, one of the best 
jacks in the county. Napoleon, No. 4255, sired by 
Alexander Wallington, dam Haines Napoleon Jen- 
net, second dam Jumbo. He was bred by W. W. 
Haines of Olney, ^lo. \h'. Nichols is the trustee 
of his township, this being his second term. He is 
a Republican in politics. His father, Eli Nichols, 
while visiting his two brothers, John and David, in 
Los Angeles, Cal., was killed by an electric street 
car, March 28, 1906. 




RESIDENCE OF HENRY W. ROH. TRENTON 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 475 

W. U. NORTON, son of J. B. and Telitha 
Norton, was born in Lee County, Iowa, March 18, 
1847. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. 

He was married Sept. 17, 1871 to Nancy C. 
Sandlin, daughter of Wm. Sandhn. Mrs. Norton 
was born in Indiana, July 1, 1849, and came to Mis- 
souri when a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Norton 
have had ten children, eight of whom are living. 
Paschal was born July 15, 1872, is married and 
lives near Oilman: Martin, June 7, 1874, died April 
7, 1875; J\Iark, Feb. 3, 1875, married and lives at 
Seattle, Wash.; Tufa, Nov. 6, 1877, died Sept. 15, 
1878; Zetty, Aug. 18, 1879, now Mrs. Melvin Con- 
stable and lives near Modena; Oscar, Aug. 2, 1881, 
lives at home; MeHssa, Dec. 19, 1883, now Mrs. 
Sylvester Hudson, lives near Brimson; Ada, Sept. 
9, 1886, lives at home; Perry C, Aug. 24, 1889, 
lives near Oilman; and Arthur L., Dec. 15, 1891. 

Mr. Norton left Iowa when he was ten years 
old, moving with his parents to Mercer County. 
He lived with his parents until his marriage, except 
during the war. After his marriage he went to 
farming in Mercer County and remained there un- 
til 1901 when he moved to Grundy County near 
Brimson, where he liyed until 1905. In that year 
he moved to the Kitchen farm near Parkerton, He 
worked at the carpenter trade for a number of years 
and still works at it occasionally. He is also a 
blacksmith and stone mason, at which trades he 
works at odd times. 

He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge and 
he and his wife both belong to the Baptist church. 



476 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

W. F. PROCTOR, son of Joseph L. and Mary 
Jane (Sutton) Proctor, both natives of Kentucky, 
was born in Mercer County, April 5, 1859. He 
came to this county in 1865. He now Hves two and 
three fourths miles south of Spickard. He stayed 
at home with his father until his marriage July 29, 
1884, to Jane E. Bushong, daughter of John arid 
Elizabeth (Noel) Bushong. They had five children: 
H. B. was born May 10, 1885, and married Miss 
Eva Marrs; Conway, born Mar. 13, 1887; married 
Miss June Gum Berry; Noel, was born July 22, 
1890; Archer Lemons, Sept. 13, 1893; and Myrtle, 
Aug. 19, 1896. Mr. Proctor's first wife was bora 
April 16, 1862. She was well educated, was an 
affectionate wife and a loving mother. She died 
April 9, 1899. After his first marriage he move. I 
on the Murphy farm for one year then lived a yeai" 
on the Spencer farm. He then moved back to his 
father's staying there until 1890 when he movel 
to his present farm which contains 200 acres. He 
has one of the finest farms in the county and is one 
best hog feeders in the country. 

Mr. Proctor's second wife was the daughter of 
Benjamin and Mary (Goodwin) Humphreys. She 
was born Nov. 25, 1857. She completed the com- 
mon schools and Trenton schools and was one of 
Grundy teachers in the 80's. Mr. Proctor was al- 
so a teacher after completing school and before he 
began farming. 

Miss Addie Proctor, Mr. Proctor's sister was 
born Oct. 3, 1853, was educated in the public schools 
of the county and has always made her home with 
Mr. Proctor. 



478 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

J. C. RENFRO was born in Mercer County 
May 7, 1861. His father was Marcellus Renfro, 
one of the oldest pioneers born in Tennesee, Sept 
22, 1821, died Dec. 18, 1901. His mother was Eli- 
zabeth (Gibson) Renfro, born in Virginia, Dec. 
2Z, 1825, died April 14, 1900. Mrs. Renfro was 
Julia (Kerr) Steckman, born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 
16, 1855. Her father was Phihip Steckman, born in 
Pennsylvania, Feb. 25, 1815, died Nov. 2, 1880. Her 
mother was Mary W. (Kerr) Steckman, born in 
Pennsylvania, Oct. 24, 1821, died Aug. 25, 1902. 
Mr. and Mrs. Renfro now live nine miles west of 
Spickard on Route 2. 

Mr. Renfro stayed at home with his father until 
he was twenty-one years old. He then worked on 
the farm until his marriage. For the past twenty- 
three years he has lived on his farm of 211 acres. 

He is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist 
church. 

W. R. ROBBINS, son of Jacob R. and Julia 
(Talbot) Robbins, was born in Grundy County, 
March 28, 1854 He now resides six and one half 
miles west of Spickard on Route 2. He was married 
to Miss Ada Brown, Aug. 10, 1879. Her father 
was Moses Brown, born in Virginia, Oct. 22, 1806, 
died Nov. 9, 1868. Her mother was Ruth M. (Mc- 
Pherson) Brown, born July 28, 1840, died July 11, 
1886. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have had eight chil- 
dren, five of whom are living. Roy A. was born 
May 29, 1880, married Myrtle Bennett ; Albert Ray, 
Dec. 7, 1881; Earl, Aug. 13, 1887, married Flo 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



479 



Wyatt; \Mlliam E., Sept. 24, 1893; John T., April 
21, 1897. Mrs. Robbins was born in Ohio, March 
25, 1858. 

Mr. Robbins began working for himself at the 
age of twenty-one. He went to Texas, but returned 
to Grundy County. After his marriage he began 
housekeeping just west of his parents home. In 
1881 he bought 200 acres of the farm he now owns, 
but he has accumulated until now he owns 660 acres. 
He makes a speciahty of raising stock. He was 
collector of his township for five terms and is at 
present chairman of the township committee. He 
is a Repubhcan. 

Mr. Robbins is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and the I. O. O. F. lodge. 




MR. AND MRS. FRANK CORNVVELL 



480 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

JOHN W. SCHOOLER is a son of W. D. and 
Malinda (Nichols) Schooler, who came from Ohio 
to Grundy County in 1839, and settled two miles east 
of the present site of Spickard where they lived for 
many years. Air. Schooler died some few years 
ago. Mrs. Schooler lives in Spickard. John W, 
Schooler was born on the old homestead in 1862, 
raised on the farm and educated in the common 
schools. He was married in 1885 to Miss Linnie 
Root, daughter of Judge J. W. Root. They have one 
daughter, Lela. 

Mr. Schooler taught school for thirteen years 
and read law while teaching. He was admitted to 
the bar in 1892 and in 1894 was elected prosecuting 
attorney on the Republican ticket, serving two 
terms. He was elected county clerk in 1898 and 
served as deputy county clerk from 1902 to 1906, 
at which time he was appointed assistant post mas- 
ter, which position he now holds. 

J. M. SCOTT was born near Milan, March 7 ^ 
1865. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He is 
the son of Bart Scott, who died Dec! 24, 1894. He 
w-as married June 30, 1891 to Ada McGowen, 
daughter of Alex McGowen. Mrs. Scott was born 
in Lincoln County, Nov. 11, 1869. They have had 
six children: Lurley L., was born April 8, 1892; 
Frank E. Feb. 15,' 1894; Lela G., June 6, 1896; 
Lovie A., Oct. 3, 1898; Mamie E., Aug. 18, 1900, 
died Jan. 9, 1901 ; and Minerd U., April 3, 1906. 

Mr. Scott w^as born in Sullivan County and 
lived there until 1886 when he went to work for the 
Milwaukee at Osgood, where he remained for four 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 481 

teen years. He then went to Audrian County where 
he worked for a railroad for two years coming to 
Grundy in 1900, and managing Stewart Pettit's 
farm. He then went to work for Geo. Wolz as 
manager of his farm near Parkerton and has been 
there since 1902. The farm consists of 580 acres. 
Mr. Scott is a Republican and a member of the Odd 
Fellow lodge. 

W. H. SHAW was born in Grundy County, 
Dec. 25, 1872. He now resides three and one half 
miles southeast of Spickard. His father was 1^ 
W. Shaw, born in Ohio, Sept. 13, 1831 and his 
mother was Nancy (Smith) Shaw, born in Ohio 
in 1837. Mr. Shaw married Miss Ella Benner on 
Feb. 18, 1894. She was the daughter of Samuel 
Benner, born Oct. 18, 1850, died April 20, 1902, 
and Mandy (Elherton) Benner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have one son, Gaylord, bom 
Oct. 8, 1895. 

Mr. Shaw stayed at home with his parents un- 
til his marriage \v'hen he moved to the Bennett farm 
east of Spickard and farmed there for one year. 
He then bought the farm on which he now lives. 
He has 90 acres of well improved and well stocked 
land. He traveled all through the west in 1905 and 
1906. He was at San Francisco at the time of the 
earth quake. 

He is a Republican and a member of the A. F. 
& A. M. lodge. 

COLUMBUS SIRES was born in Monroe 
County, Mo., Sept. 25, 1839. He came to Grundy 



482 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



County in the spring of 1840, and settled near Butts- 
ville where his father entered land. He lived there 
until he was fifteen years old when his father sold 
that farm and bought what is now the Sid Renfro 
farm, near Parkerton. He lived there with his 
parents until he was grown. After his marriage 
he lived near his father for five years and then 
bought his present farm two and a half miles norm 




MR AND MRS COLUMBUS SIRES AND THEIR HOME 



of the old place which consists of 220 acres. Dur- 
ing the war he served in the State Militia, John E. 
Carter being one of his comrades. 

Mr. Sires was married April 2, 1864 to Miss 
Mary J. Drinkard, daughter of Abner Drinkard, 
Mrs. Sires was born in Grundy County, May 2, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 483 

1848. They have had six children : Hattie was born 
April 24, 1865 and died in infancy; Charles, Dec. 
20, 1866, lives in Trenton; Minnie, May 1, 1869, 
now Mrs. Henry Witten; Lettie, June 6, 1871, now 
Mrs. A. K. Brown; Luther, Nov 6, 1873, ded in 
infancy; R.y T., Aug. 22, 1875, lives m Oklc'.honia; 
Callie, Dec :"'8. 1878, new Mr=> P-i-ter ScoLt; Em- 
:-.ttt, Nov. 29, 1881 at home; :.vd Emma, Nov. 
29, 1881, died in infancy. 

HENRY SPECK, son of John C. and Caroline 
(Fuller) Speck, was born in Eranklin township, 
Grundy County, Sept. 30, 1877. He now lives on 
Route 1, a fourth mile southeast of Spickard. He 
was married to Lydia Hein, Mar. 6, 1902. They 
have had three children. Pearl was born in Jan. 
1903 ; Harold, Nov. 14, 1904; and Cleo. Mrs. 

Speck is the daughter of Valentine and Caroline 
(Kaw) Hein. 

Mr, Speck stayed at home until his marriage 
when he bought the farm which he now owns, 
which at that time, only contained 140 acres. He 
now has 200 acres, deals in stock, cattle and raises 
a great many horses. Mr, Speck takes great pride 
in improving his farm and is one of Grundy's suc- 
cessful farmers. 

G. H. SWEETMAN was born in Mercer 
County Jan. 8, 1875. His father was John W. 
Sweetman, born in New York, Oct. 9, 1845, died 
Jan. 12, 1902. His mother, Sarah (Vanderpool) 
Sweetman was born in Missouri, July 19, 1852. 
He lives four and one half miles northwest of Spick- 



484 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

ard on Route 2. He was married to Miss Rose I. 
McVay March 20, 1895. She is the daughter of 
J. W. and Sarah (White) McVay. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sweetman have five children. Senne was born 
Dec. 15, 1896; Vivian, March 23, 1897; Garnett, 
Aug. 28, 1899; Walter, May 6, 1901 ; Wilbur, July 
4, 1903 ; Mrs. Sweetman was born in Grundy 
County, May 22, 1870. 

Mr. Sweetman began supporting himself at the 
age of fifteen. He clerked in a restaurant at Ham- 
burgh, Iowa for four years and at Council Bluffs 
and Omaha for two years. After his marriage he 
moved to a farm in Atchison County, but after a 
year came to Grundy County when he moved on the 
McVay farm. After two years he bought the farm 
on which he now lives. He stayed on his farm for 
six years then secured the position of Rural mail 
carrier on Route 4 at Spickard. He moved back to 
the farm after two and one half years. 

Mr. Sweetman is a Republican and a member 
of the Latter Day Saints church. 

H. L. SWINTON was born in Mich., Sept. 
12, 1850. He now lives on Route 1, five miles south- 
east of Spickard. His father was Chas. M. Swin- 
ton, who was born in N. Y., April 4, 1820, died 
July 18, 1887 and his mother was Jane (Newel) 
Swinton, who was born in N. Y., May 8, 1821 and 
died June 11, 1908.His first wife was Jennie Eit- 
niear, born June 2, 1867, died Dec. 21, 1899. She 
was the daughter of Abraham and Anna (Ward) 
Eitniear. He was married to her Feb. 1, 1884. 



486 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

They had three children. Jessie N. was born Mar. 
26, 1886, married W. A. Whinery; WilHam H., 
Dec. 28, 1888; and Ernest R., July 28, 1894. 

He was married to Sarah Speer, daughter of Sol- 
omon and Elizabeth, (Hobbs) Speer, May 18, 1904. 
She was born Aug. 9, 1850. 

Mr. Swinton stayed at home on his father's 
farm in Michigan until he was thirty-two years of 
age on account of his parents' health. He then mar- 
ried, farmed for two years longer in that state and 
then came to Grundy County. He rented for three 
years and then bought a farm near Tindall, selling 
it after nine years and buying another farm, which 
he sold after four years and bought 80 acres which 
he sold , then bought the eighty where he now lives. 

Mr. Swinton is a Democrat and a member of 
the I. O. O. F. lodge at Tindall. 

J. W. TRACY, son of James T. and Nancy 
(Walters) Tracy, natives of Kentucky was born in 
Grundy County on Feb. 11, 1862. He now resides 
on Route 1, four and one half miles south of Spick- 
ard. He was educated in the public schools of the 
county and stayed at home with his mother untd 
he married Rachel Legg, daughter of Bourter and 
Semira (Wood) Legg in March 1891. Soon after- 
wards he moved to Trenton, living there six and 
one half years, when he moved back to his farm 
which he now owns. His farm consists of 114 
acres. He has a beautiful home and his farm Is 
well improved in every way. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy 
are from two of the oldest pioneer families in the- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 487 

county. They have one child, Vennice, born June 
20, 1892. 

Mr. Tracy is a Democrat and a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and W. O. W. lodges. 

J. A. WAGNER was born in Tazewell County, 
Virginia, June 10, 1854. He now resides one and 
one half miles south and two miles east of Spickard 
on Route 1. His father was A. E. Wagner, born in 
Virginia in 1831 and died in 1889. His mother was 
Julia E. (Tabor) Wagner, born in 1838. Mr. Wag- 
ner was married to Nancy J. Marrs June 27, 1871. 
Her mother was Jannie (Tabor) Marrs, born June 
25, 1826 and her father was David W. Marrs, born 
inl823, died in July 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Wagner 
have had nine children. W. F. was born July 20, 
1873; Marguerite V., April 27, 1875; Chas. O., 
Oct. 9, 1876; Ehsia V., June 12, 1878; Mary T., 
July 9, 1880; John R., Feb. 22, 1882; Joseph E., 
Feb. 17, 1884; Luther, Sept. 18, 1886 and Cora, 
Oct. 18, 1890. Mrs. Wagner was born July 2^, 
1855. 

Mr. Wagner began farming in Virginia when 
he was about nineteen years old. In 1884 he came 
to Grundy County and bought 40 acres which is a 
part of his present farm. He now owns 133 1-3 
acres. Mrs. Marrs, Mrs. Wagner's mother, makes 
her home with her daughter and although eighty- 
four years of age she is enjoying good health. 

Mr. Wagner is an Indeendent in politics and 
a member of the M. E. church, South. 



488 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



J. D. WILSON was born in Grundy County, 
Aug. 17, 1867. H^ lives one and three fourths 
miles northwest of Spickard on Route 4. He was 
married to Lovie M. McLaughlin Nov. 16, 1890. 
Her parents were Lisbon McLaughlin, born in 
1847, and Elizabeth (Wilkinson) AlcLaughlin, born 




MR. AND MRS. J. D. WILSON 



Oct. 7, 1858, died in 1874. Mrs. Wilson was born 
July 2, 1870. Her mother died when she was four 
years old and she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. 
Wm. J. Johnson. Mr. Johnson was born Feb. 8, 
1822, died Nov. 14, 1905. Mrs. Johnson was born 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 489 

May 26, 1834, died June 15, 1904. Mr. Johnson 
came to Missouri in 1844. He got the gold fever 
and went to CaHfornia, coming back by way of the 
Isthmus of Panama to his farm which he entered 
and where Mr. Wilson now lives. 

Mr. Wilson stayed at home until his marriage 
when he moved on to the farm where he now lives. 
It consists of 190 acres, is well stocked and situated 
near Spickard. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two 
children, L. L., born Aug. 8, 1892 and Henry L., 
Sept. 13, 1898. 

T. A. WILSON was born in Mercer County, 
Oct. 9, 1843. He resides three miles west of Spick- 
ard on Route 2. His father, John L. Wilson, was 
a native of Virginia, born in 1811 and died in Nov. 
1860. His mother, Angeline (Howard) Wilson, 
was also a native of Virginia, born in 1814, died 
in 1889. He was married April 14, 1864, to KHza- 
l)eih Siies. Her father was John Sires, born in 
Virginia, May 20. 1813, died in March 1906 and her 
mother was Eliabeth (White) Sires, born in Ken- 
tucky, Oct. 16, 1815, died Jan. 31, 1896. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wilson have had fifteen children, thirteen of 
whom are living. J. Taylor was born April 21, 
1867, married Stella Godfrey; Wm. E., March 21, 
1869, married Belle McLaughlin; Richard A., Nov. 
14, 1870, married Minnie Renfro; Augustus M., 
July 23, 1872, married Fannie Crockett; Pearl R., 
Feb. 27, 1875, married Poca McLaughlin; Ada A., 
Dec. 11, 1873, married Sublette L. Moore; Minnie 
M., Feb. 20, 1879, married Eugene T. Moore; 
Thomas R., Jan. 20, 1883, married Bertha Corn- 



490 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

well; Belle, Aug. 4, 1885, married Albert Cornwell ; 
Cora E., Nov. 18, 1887, married Luther Gay; Ray 
F., Jan. 27, 1888; Daisy E., Sept. 9, 1890, married 
Robert Harvey; Blanche E., July 18, 1892; Oleva 
M., died ^larch 29, 1866; Linnie L., died May 20, 
1882. 

Mr. Wilson stayed at home in Mercer County 
till the death of his father. He then went to Polk 
County and worked on a farm for five years. He 
came back to Grundy County and after his mar- 
riage and in the spring of 1864 he enlisted in the 




MR. AND MRS. J. A. WILSON 



44th Mo. Co. A. for one year. He fought in the 
battles of Franklin, Nashville, Corinth and at Fort 
Spanish, Alabama. He received an honorable dis- 
charge at St. Louis. After the war he bought 80 
acres in Mercer County, sold it and bought 40 acres 
in Grundy County. He sold his farm and went 
into the saw mill business for five years then 
buying the farm on which he now lives. It con- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 491 

sists of 100 acres. He also owns a farm of 80 acres 
just north of his home. 

P. R. WILSON was born in Grundy County, 
Missouri, Feb. 27 , 1875. He lives three miles west 
of Spickard on Route 2. He is the son of Thomas 
A. and Elizabeth (Sires) Wilson, both natives of 
Missouri. He was married to Poca McLaughlin, 
daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth (Coleman) Mc- 
Laughlin, the latter of whom was born Jan. 13, 
1856. They have one child, Fern, Born Feb. 11, 
1897. Mrs. Wilson was born in Grundy County, 
Sept. 16, 1877. 

Mr. Wilson's farm consists of 80 acres of well 
located land. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilson's ancestors are old 
pioneers of the county. Dr. McLaughlin, one of 
Grundy County's oldest physicians, who died Aug. 
11, 1909, was Mrs. Wilson's grandfather. 

Mr. Wilson is a Repulbican. Mrs. Wilson is a 
member of the Christian church. 

THEO. BURKHARDT, son of Trudpert and 
Christina (Wetzel) Burkhardt, was born at Pl;.:l- 
adelphia, March 6, 1848. He moved to New Rich- 
mond, Ohio when he was about eight years old. His 
father was a jeweler and he worked with him learn- 
ing the trade. In 1870 he left home and went to 
Portsmouth, Ohio where he remained eight years. 
He was married June 18, 1873 to Miss Julia C. Ball, 
daughter of Benjamin Ball. He then returned to 
New Richmond where he remained two years then 
went back to Portsmouth where he remained four 



492 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 

years when he came to Plattsburg, Mo., and con- 
ducted a jewelry store for several years for Geo. 
Essig. About twenty-five years ago he came to 
Trenton where he has since conducted a jewelry 
store. 

W. J. CUNNINGHAM was born in Grundy 
County, Dec. 31, 1853. He now resides eight miles 
east of Spickard, on Route 5. His father was Wil- 
liam Cunningham, born in Ohio, Nov. 26, 1826. 
died Jan. 31, 1871. His mother was Elizabeth 
(Barnes) Cunningham, born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 
11, 1828, died April 7, 1907. 

He was married to Elizabeth Brownawell on 
March 6, 1876. She was the daughter of George 
W. Brownawell, born in Pennsylvania, May 16, 
1836, died July 14, 1864, and Barbary (Brewer) 
Brownawell, born in Indiana, Jan. 3, 1836. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cunningham have had seven children. 
Alfred was born Feb. 17, 1877, married Jennie 
Smith; Rosetta, Sept. 26, 1879, married Wm. 
Thomas and died March 12, 1905; William, April 
30, 1882, married 011a Owens; Westley, Sept. 28, 
1P8S, married Nina Berry; Viola, Oct. 4, 1884, mar- 
ried Frank Smith; Allen, July 28, 1894; Clara E., 
Feb. 7, 1898. Mrs. Cunningham was born Sept 
23, 1859 and was educated in the schools of Grun- 
dy County. 

Mr. Cunningham is one of Grundy County's 
old timers. He was born and reared on the farm 
on which he now lives. After his parents' death 
when he came into possession of the farm, it con- 
tained only 80 acres, but he has accumulated until 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 493 

he has given his boys a farm and still has 180 acres. 
He has been making a specialty of threshing for 
the past thirty years. He is also in the saw mill 
business. 

Mr. Cunningham is a Republican and a mem- 
ber of the Baptist church. 




MR. AND MKS. \V. \V. BRUMMITT 

W. W. BAIN, son of P. W. and Angeline (Lin- 
ney) Bain, was born near Tindall, April 1, 1870. 
He lived on the farm until he was about twelve 
years old when he moved to Trenton with his par- 
ents. He atended high school and worked in a hard- 
ware store at intervals. In 1886 he went into the 
hardvvare business with his father at Spickard, 



494 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

which they continued for about six years. He thea 
sold out and returned to Trenton and was elected 
city collector and served one term. On May 24, 1896 
he and his brother Claude bought the Trenton Tele- 
) J one plant c.nd M''. Ba^n wp. . aiadc sccrctnr\ ai d 
manager which position he still holds. 

He was married June 17, 1896, to Jennie Betry, 
daughter of J. B. Berry. They have two children. 
Kathryne was born Jan \2, 1899; Edwin B., Dec. 
12, 1904. 

Mr Bain is a member ^J one oi ilie oldest r.iju- 
ilies in the county, his grandfather, Jesse Bain hav- 
ing come here in 1837. Mrs. Bain is also of one 
of the pioneer families. 

He is a Republican and a member of the Elks, 
and Eagles lodges. 

THE BANK OF SPICKARDSVILLE was 
incorporated as a state bank and organized in 1888. 
It is one of the oldest and strongest financial in- 
stitutions of Grundy County. Its officers are Joh.n 
F. W'olz, pre:3ident, Henry Waltner, vice-president 
and Norton Burkeholder, cashier. The capital stock 
of the bank is $15,000. According to its financial 
statement Aug. 12, 1909, its undivided surplus and 
profits are $7,500, deposits $114,000 and cash due 
from other banks $65,000. The directors and stock- 
holders of this bank comprise a number of the most 
prominent and substantial men of Grundy County. 

A. K. BROWN was born near Edinburg, Oct. 
19, 1868. He is a son of Harvey and Louisa (Wit- 
ten) Brown. His father has been dead about nine 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



495 



years and his mother makes her home with Dr. 
Winningham at Trenton. 

He was married Oct. 22, 1891 to Lettie Sire.s, 
daughter of Columbus Sires. She was born near 




RESIUENCK OK A. K. BROWN 

Hatten Chapel, June 6, 1871. They have two chil- 
dren. Mamie was born Aug. 20, 1892 ; Alta, March 
25, 1899. 

Mr. Brown came with his parents when a small 
boy and settled near Shott. He lived at home until 
grown when lie went to farming for himself. He 
lived for a short time near Parkerton on the Weigel 
place. He then bought the place at Shott. His 
farm consists of 38 acres and he manages his moth- 
er's farm, which consists of 110 acres adjoining his. 
He conducted a store at Shott for twelve years, re- 



496 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



tiring from this business in 1907. He was post- 
master at Shott until that office was discontinued. 
Mr. Brown is a member of the Methodist 
church, while Mrs. Brown belongs to the Baptist. 

REV. D C. BROWN, son of Jacob A. and 
Sarah P. (Clanton) Brown, both of whom were 
born in North Carolina and settled in Harrison 



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D. C. HKOWN 

County, ]\Iissouri in 183'^, was born in Harrison 
County Aug 21, 1841. His parents were members 
of the Baptist church and his father was elected 
one of the first justices of the peace in Harrison 
County and was a member of the organization of 
the West Fork Association of Baptists and assistci 
in drafting the constitution and by-laws of that as- 
sociation. Jacob A. Brown died in 1875 and his 
wife in 1879. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 497 

Mr. Brown was married to Martha J. Cole on 
Oct. 4, 1859. She was a daughter of Wilham and 
Mary Ann (Kellums) Cole and was born Oct. 4, 
1839 in Monroe County. They had ten children. 
Louisa A. was born July 6, 1860; Jacob J., Sept 15, 
1866, U. S. Commissioner at Roseberry, Idalio; 
Sarah E., Aug. 23, 1868, wife of Jno Dowell of Mel-, 
bourne; Mary, March 16, 1872; Nancy E., Pel). 
27, 1874; Thomas, March 18, 1876 a Brimson mer- 
chant; Henry A. Aug. 7, 1878; D. C. Feb. 18, 1881, 
rural mail carrier ; John, died at the age of thirteen 
months and an unnamed child in infancy. 

Mr. Brown lived at home until he was eighteen 
years of age. During the war he was a member 
of Company F, Second Missouri Cavalry, (Mer- 
ril's Horse) and served until 1864. After the \^ar 
he farmed in Daviess County until 1876 when he 
located in Grundy County in Harrison township, 
afterwards moving to Taylor. He has 370 acres -A 
Grundy County land. He engaged in the hardware 
business in Brimson, was for a time in partner shij) 
with his son, T. A. Brown, in that business, retiring 
recently. Mr Brown has long been a minister of 
the Baptist church and was instrumental in or- 
ganizing the Baptist church in Brimson. He is a 
Republican and a local political leader. He was 
elected as representative of Grundy County in 1904. 
He was the first post master of Brimson and erected 
the first business building there. He was chairman 
of the Committee on Federal Relations and a mem- 
ber of a number of important committees. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 499 

H. ALLEN was born in Livingston county, 
May 13, 1856. He now lives three fourths of a 
mile northeast of Brimson. He was educated in the 
district schools. Mr. Allen was married August 
25, 1878, to Mary Brown. They have eight chil- 
dren: William Albert, Laura Bell, Frank, James 
Everett, Earl, Ira, Leo and Homer. 

Mr, Allen lived on a farm in Livingston coun- 
ty until he was twenty-one years of age. 

On August 28, 1908 he bought the Marlin 
Merchandise stock at Brimson in partnership with 
his son, Frank. He is a Democrat. 

DAVID L. ARNEY was born in Burke Coun- 
ty, North Carolina, December 11, 1817. His father 
was David Arney and his mother was Vina (Tuck- 
er) Arney, born in North Carolina in 1770, died in 
1860. He was married to Miss Martha Freeman; 
daughter of Jessie and Sadie (Gipson) Freeman, 
in 1840. She was born in North Carolina, Decem- 
ber 15, 1820, died April 18, 1873. They had three 
children. Cornelius L. was born October 29, 1841 ; 
G. D. Feb. 29, 1843, died Aug. 22, 1904; J. S., Oct. 
12, 1845. All of the boys and the father fought 
for the Union in the Civil War. 

Mr. Arney came to Daviess County in 1845 
where he bought 40 acres of land. He sold that 
and came to Harrison County in 1855 where he 
bought 80 acres and later another 80 acres, but at 
the close of the war he sold it and bought land in 
Grundy County until he had accumulated 1070 
acres. He has given all of his children a fine farm. 
He was one of the best stock feeders in the county 




DAVID L. ARNEY 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 501 

and although he is ninety-two years of age, he helps 
about the farm. He is one of the oldest men in Mis- 
souri and very spry for his age. 

Mr. Arney is a member of the North Methodist 
Episcopal church and the A. F. & A. M. lodge. He 
is a Republican in politics. 

A. H. BUCHANAN, son of James R. and 
Nancy (Hull) Buchanan, was born in Tazewell 
County, Virginia, Sept. 5, 1844. When he was 
seven years of age he moved with his parents to 
Taylor County, Kentucky where he remained for 




RESIDENCE OF A. H. BUCHANON 

five years, then came to Montgomery County, Mis- 
souri and in 1859 to Callaway County. When he 
was twenty-one years old he commenced working 
ior himself. He moved from Callaway to Grundy 



502 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

County in 1872 Mr. Buchanan at one time served 
a justice of the peace of Harrison township. He 
was a member of Col. Williams regiment durnig the 
Civil War. 

On Dec 13, 1866 he was married to Nancy 
P. Hale. She was born in Mercer County, Virginia, 
Dec. 22, 1848, and was the daughter of C. P. and 
M. M. (Witten) Hale, both of whom were natives 
of Virginia, but came to Livingston County, Mis- 
souri in 1853. 

Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have had seven chil- 
dren. Lulu L. was born July 12, 1868, married E. 
E. Brown, moved to Okla., and died June 5, 1895;, 
John W., Nov. 21, 1870, married and lives in Kan- 
sas City; James H., Sept. 22, 1875, married and 
lives in South Missouri; Lizzie, Dec. 29, 1877, now 
Mrs. M. A. Romans, of Moberly; Nancy, June 13, 
1880, now Mrs. E. E. Brown, lives near the home 
place; Margaret, June 10, 1873, died Sept. 28, 1874;. 
Martha, Sept. 6, 1886, lives at home. 

ADAM BUCKERT, son of John Buckert, de- 
ceased, and Katherine Buckert who lives in Illinois, 
was born in Warsaw, Illinois, May 12, 1859. Mr. 
Buckert is always known as Ed Buckert. He was 
married Feb. 1, 1888 to Sarah Stewart, daughter 
of J. M. Stewart. They have two children. Grace 
E. was born March 4, 1893; Howard M. Dec. 3, 
1900. 

Mr. Buckert lived at home in Illinois until he 
was married. 

His father died when he was fourteen years of 
age and he helped support his mother. After his. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



503 



marriage he remained in Illinois five years, then 
came to Grundy County. He lived for several 
years on the Elmore place and in 1899 bought his 
present farm. It consists of 80 acres, five and one 
fourth miles east of Trenton. 

He belongs to the Lutheran church and Mrs'. 
Buckert is a member of the Presbyterian church. 




RESIDENCE OF ADAM {"ED") BUCKERT 

J. H. BAKER was born in Grundy County, 
July 14, 1866. His father was Geo. W. Baker, born 
in Kentucky, July 29, 1818, died Feb. 7, 1907, and 
his mother was Lucy A. (Bryant) Baker, also a 
native of Kentucky. Mr. Baker now lives two and 
one fourth miles south and three miles east of 
Spickard on Route 1. He married Miss Sarah 
Ricketts, Jan. 23, 1887. She was the daughter of 
Henry L. Ricketts, born in July 1830 and Emily 



504 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

L. (Elkins) Ricketts, born in April 1847, died Oct. 
9, 1901. 

Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children. Claude 
A. was born Dec. 25, 1887; Willie E., April 27, 
1889; Maude, Aug. 8, 1891; and Chas. E., Feb. 6, 
1906. Mrs. Baker was born March 4, 1867. 

Mr. Baker was in the flouring mill business 
at Spickard until 1905 when he sold his mill to 
Ed. Cook and moved to his farm. His farm con- 
tains 240 acres and is one of the best improved in 
Grundy County. Mr. Baker feeds stock quite ex- 
tensively. He is a Republican and a member of 
the Christian church and the I. O. O. F. lodge. 

B. T. BALLINGER was born in Grundy Coun- 
ty on April 8, 1864. He was the son of Harvey 
Ballinger, born in Ohio in 1826, died in 1898, and 
Mary J. (Evans) Ballinger, born in Ohio in 1834, 
died in 1906. After completing school, Mr. Bal- 
linger stayed at home on the farm until he married 
Miss Alice Allen in 1886. She was born in 1866 
and died in 1887. He married Miss M. S. Cook 
in 1888. She was the daughter of Wm. and Mary 
(Wetsker) Cook, both natives of Ireland and was 
born in 1870. They have two children. Dortha 
M. was born Dec. 29, 1889; Dora M., Oct. 25, 
1893. 

His farm is well improved and consists of 128 
acres. He owns stock in the Gait Telephone Com- 
pany, 

Mr. Ballinger is an Independent in politics and 
a member of the Christian church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 505 

ADAM BREIGEL, son of Mike and Annie 
(Heintz) Breigel, both natives of Germany, was 
born in Sept. 1837 at Prussia on the Rhine, Ger- 
many. He now resides on Route 1, Spickard. He 
was married September 21, 1875 to Miss Louise 
Merle, daughter of Lewis and Anna (Boush) Merle. 
Both of her parent were also natives of German)^ 
Mr. and Mrs. Breigel have two children$ cI5 .Srn 
Mr. and Mrs. Breigel have three children. Anna 
Mary was born Oct. 18, 1876 and married Hugh 
Terry, Feb. 27, 1901; Lizzie Caroline (Browning), 
Feb. 14, 1879, married Mach 5, 1902; Lula, May 
23, 1883, married Dec. 31, 1902 to Ora Clark. 

Mr. Breigel farmed with his father in Ger- 
many until 1866 when he came to this country, 
arriving in St. Louis on the 18th day of March. 
He began working on a farm near Waterloo, 111., 
where he worked for three years. He left there 
and went to Indiana then to Ohio, then to Missouri, 
then back to Ohio in 1875. After his marriage he 
■came to Grundy County, rented awhile, then bought 
120 acres, but by good management he added to his 
farm until when it was sold it consisted of 200 acres. 
In 1901 he moved to his present home. Mr. Breigel 
is one of the county's best citizens, is seventy-two 
years of age and is enjoying the best of health. He 
is a Democrat and a member of the Christian 
church. 

JOE BRANSON was born in Indiana, Jan. 
19, 1868. He now resides five miles southeast of 
Spickard on Route 1. His father was Martin Bran- 
son, born in Park County, Indiana, Jan. 16, 1838, 



506 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

and his mother was Nancy (Mitchell) Branson, 
born in Indiana, Dec. 23, 1843, died Nov. 3, 1908. 

Mr. Branson was married Feb. 4, 1892 to Miss 
Mildred Cartmill, born in Grundy County, June 
16, 1871. Her father was J. W. Cartmill, born in 
Illinois, May 19 1833, and her mother was Mary 
Eliazbeth (Chipps) Cartmill, born in Pennsylvania, 
Oct. 7, 1834, died Sept.' 1, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. 
Branson have two children: Villa, born Jan. 9, 
1895 and Veda, born May 5, 1898. 

Mr. Branson went with his parents to Kansas 
in the fall of 1883. In 1886 he came to Grundy 
County and worked by the month until his marriage 
w^hen he went to farming on 40 acres of his present 
farm. Since that time he has accumulated 120 
acres. 

Mr. Branson is a member of the Christian 
church, I. O. O. F. lodge and a Republican. 

W. F. BURT, son of Alonzo M. Burt, born in 
Illinois, August 30, 1841 and Laura (Munn) Burt, 
born in Mo., March 25, 1855, was born in Grundy 
County, July 25, 1878. He now resides one and one 
half miles south east of Spickard, on Route 1. He 
was married Oct. 1, 1899 to Miss Mattie Minter, 
born Oct. 21, 1881. She was the daughter of S. 
V. Minter, born in Ohio, Nov. 17, 1837, and Jose- 
phine (Flowers) Minter, born in Mo., Nov. 22, 1843 
Mr. and Mrs. Burt have had two children: Wanda 
Wonita, born Oct. 17, 1901, died August 31, 1902; 
Kenneth was born Nov. 1, 1905. 

Mr. Burt began work at the age of fourteen 
years and has been very successful in every way. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



507 



He has a fine farm of 52 acres. He and his wife 
are from famihe? who are widely known in their 
vicinity. 

Mr. Burt is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
Yeoman lodges. He is a Republican in politics, 
Mrs. Burt is a member of the Christian church. 

JOHN BUSHONG was born in Augusta 
County, Virginia, Feb. 22, 1819. He came to Mo. 
in 1859 settling first in Livingston County. He 
came to Grundy in 1869 and has lived here since 
that time. Mr. Bushong learned the carpenter 
trade in Virginia and worked at it until he came 
to Missouri. He bought his present place when he 
came to Missouri. 

Mr. Bushong has had ten children, six of whom 
are living. He makes his home with his grand- 
daughter, Mrs. Hugh Nichols. 




RESIDENCE OF J. W. HENDRICKSON 



508 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

S. T. CLARK was born in Gentry County, 
Missouri, April 25, 1854. His parents were A. T. 
and Mary J. (Low) Clark. He now lives on 
Route 7, Trenton. Mr. Clark was married Sept. 
14, 1880 to Emily Bell Caskey, daughter of Wm. 
Caskey. She was born in Morgan County, Ken- 
tucky, March 3, 1861, and came to Missouri when 
about sixteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Clark 
have had five children, four of whom are living. 
AVm. Albert was born Aug. 25, 1881, is married and 
lives at Trenton; Ota J., Aug. 9, 1885, at home; 
Eva Bell, July 20, 1889^ died June 18, 1890, Hattie 
C, July 16, 1892, at home; and Blanche, June 15, 
1895. 

Mr. Clark was born and raised on a farm in 
Gentry County. At the age of twenty- six he mar- 
ried and went to farming for himself. He farmed 
in Gentry County for two years, then went to what 
was then the Cherokee Nation, now a part of Okla- 
homa, where he lived fourteen years. He then sold 
his farm there, returned to Gentry County, lived 
there four years then came to Grundy and leased 
a farm near Edinburg. In the spring of 1909 he 
bought the S. S. Day farm which is three and one 
half miles north of Parkerton, upon which he now 
lives. It consists of 280 acres. 

Mr. Clark handles pure bred Aberdeen Angus 
cattle, Poland China Hogs and makes a specialty of 
raising yellow corn and feeding black cattle. In 
1908 he received third premium in the Grundy 
County corn show. He is a member of the Odd 
Fellow lodge and the family belong to the Metho- 
dist church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNlTY 509 

EDWARD COOPER was born in Madison 
County, Kentucky, Dec. 25, 1842. His father was 
Samuel Cooper, born in Kentucky in 1816, who 
died in Madison County, Ark., Dec. 17, 1898 and 
his mother was Nancy (Marcum) Cooper, born in 
Kentucky. He now hves just east of Spickard on 
Route 5. He was married to Marguerite Herring- 
ton Pixler July 18, 1901. 

Mr. Cooper came with his father to Missouri 
when he was yet a young boy and lived west of 
Half Rock until the Civil War when he enlisted ia 
Co. C. 23d Mo. In the battle of Shiloh he was 
wounded and still bears the effects of the wound. 
On June 6, 1862 he was given an honorable dis- 
charge and sent home. He lived west of Half Rock 
until 1891 when he moved to Spickard and lived 
there until 1893. He then moved to his present 
farm which consists of 80 acres. Mrs. Cooper was 
born in Grant County, Indiana, Jan. 6, 1855. Her 
father was Robert Pixler, born Aug. 23, 1825, died 
Feb. 14, 1865 and her mother was Mary (Wood) 
Pixler, born Oct. 18, 1830, died Feb. 28, 1889. 

L. P. CORNWELL was born in Grundy Coun- 
ty, Nov. 17, 1863. His father, B. B. Cornwell, who 
was a son of W. T. Cornwell and came to Grundy 
County in 1839, was born in Tennessee, Dec. 6, 
1827, died Nov 2, 1894. His mother was Ellen E. 
Cochran Cornwell, born Feb. 13, 1834. 

Mr. Corwell stayed with his parents until their 
death. His mother died Aug. 16, 1903. Mr. Corn- 
well and his brother Robert N. own the old home 
place. He has never married. 



510 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Robert N. Cornwell was born in Grundy 
County, June 5. 1866. He married Helena E, 
Speck on March 25, 1902. They have had three 
children. Opal was born Jan. 17, 1903; Wilburn 
B. and Wayne, born Dec. 23, 1905. Wayne died 
in infancy. Mrs. Cornwell was born in Grundy 
County Dec. 31, 1872. 

The Cornwell brothers both belong to the Dem- 
ocratic party. L. P. belongs to the A. F. & A. M., 
I. O. O. F. and K. of P. lodges. 

E. S. COX was born in Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 
20, 1852. His father was Wm. Cox born in Tenn. 
eighty-five years ago. His mother was Mary (Har- 
ris) Cox, also a native of Tennessee. His father is 
still living, his mother died during the war. Mr. 
Cox came to this country thirty-two years ago. On 
Dec. 14, 1878 he married Leora Bell Hall. She 
was born Aug. 22, 1862. Her father was A. L. 
Hall, born Aug. 16, 1840, died June 24, 1903. Her 
mother was Mary C. (Sechrest) Hall, born June 
9, 1841. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cox have had eight children, six 
of whom are living. Albert was born Feb. 17, 
1879, married Eva Crawford; Naomi, Ang. 10, 
1882, married Sanford Campbell; Charles Jan. 1, 
1888; Pearl L., June 4, 1892; Leora, Jan. 14, 1891 ; 
and Viola, April 28, 1900. 

Mr. Cox is a mechanic, but has foll'«vv^ed farm- 
ing the most of his life. He bought a farm con- 
sisting of 120 acres near Princeton, but sold it 
and bought a farm of 130 acres near Spickard, 
sold it about seven years ago and moved to the farm 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 511 

on which he now Hves. This farm consists of 100 
acres and is worth $100 per acre. It is located near 
Tindall. 

C. W. CRAWFORD was born in Grundy 
County, Feb. 28, 1861. He now resides four and 
one half miles northwest of Tindall. His father 
svas B. P. Crawford, born June 28, 1819, died Oct. 
1, 1898, and his mother was Era Ann Crawford, 
born in Illinois Aug. 28, 1820, died March 3, 1868. 
He was married to Sallie Pontius, Dec. 25, 1880. 
She was the daughter of Daniel and Matilda 
(Dreese) Pontius. They have had ten children 
eight of whom are living. Tom, born Oct. 24, 1881, 
married Emma Newton; Mayme, April 12, 1885; 
Bessie, Mar. 25, 1886 married Clyde Bartee; Min- 
nie, June 26, 1889; and Harry, Sept. 19, 1891 ; Jun- 
ior, April 30, 1894; Rosa Aug. 31, 1899; and Paul, 
Dec. 9, 1902. Mrs. Crawford was born in Ohio 
July 3, 1862. 

Mr. Crawford stayed at home with his parents 
until his marriage then farmed for one year on 
his father's farm. The next year his father gave 
him sixty acres of wild land and he moved on it, 
improved it and has accumulated until, at present 
he owns 385 acres. His farm is well stocked and 
he has a large flock of fine sheep. He is a stock- 
holder in the Farmer's State Bank at Tindall, Mo. 
Mr. Crawford is a Republican and a member 
of the Christian church. 

WILLIAM C. CRAWFORD, son of Peery 
and Era Ann Crawford, was born in Louisville, 
Kentucky, Sept. 10, 1847. He moved with his par- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 513 

ents to Peoria, 111., when he was a small boy. From 
there they moved to Iowa then to north Missouri 
where he has since lived. He was married Dec. 23, 
1869 to Miss Nettie J. Moore, daughter of John 
Moore, who lives near Spickard. 

They have eight children. Allie E. was born, 
Feb. 21, 1871; Freeman ]., July 17, 1873; Samuel 
B., Aug. 23, 1875; Ella M., Sept. 29, 1878; Emma 
M., Feb. 16, 1880; Hulda B., Oct. 5, 1884; Char- 
lotte S., April 10, 1887; and Sublett M., May 23, 
1889. All are living except the two oldest. Samuel 
married Rose McNair Feb. 18, 1900; Ella, James 
C. LeHew Dec. 24, 1901; Emma, Mont Johnson, 
Feb. 27, 1907; Hulda, Walter Axtell, June 28, 1908. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crawford reside on their farm 
three miles east of Trenton. 

REV. H. A. CUNNINGHAM, son of Wil- 
liam and Lydia (Tharp) Cunningham, was born 
in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, Jan. 10, 1848. He 
was married Sept. 15, 1871 to Carrie A. Tobias, 
daughter of Wilbur Tobias of Pennsyvania. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cuningham have nine children: William 
A., age thirty-three; Myrtle (Allen) thirty-one; 
Hulda (Hale) twenty-six; Alice (Hale) twenty- 
four; Mable, twenty-eight; Harry, twenty-two; 
^^^ilbur, twenty; Jennie thirteen; and Marvin, ten. 
Those dead are Austin and Alta. 

Mr Cunningham's mother died when he was 
twelve years of age and he went west where he re- 
mained until he was twenty-four years old. In 1870 
he returned to Wisconsin and after his marriage 
in 1872 he went into the milling business, in which 



514 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

he remained for fifteen years. In 1887 he entered 
the ministry and has since held the pastorate of the 
Laredo South M E. church and others. He is now 
pastor of the M. E. church at Edinburg. 

E. A. DEAN was born in Lawrence County, 
Pennsylvania, July 16, 1839. He now hves one mile 
northeast of Spickard on Route 5. His father was 
Aaron B. Dean, born Dec. 21, 1817, died Jan. 28, 
1901. His mother was Eleanor Dean, born Nov. 
11, 1815, died July 19, 1845. 

Mr. Dean married Marguerite E. McKee Jan. 
7, 1866. They had two children, both died in in- 
fancy. Mr. Dean's first wife was the daughter of 
Wm. McKee, born in 111., Nov. 14, 1801, died Dec. 
22, 1846, and Rhoda (Butcher) McKee, born Feb. 
10, 1807, died Dec. 12, 1879. She died Oct. 28, 
1893. 

Mr. Dean married Mrs. Minerva J. Coon, June 
4, 1894. She was the daughter of James E. Drink- 
ard, who died in 1861, and Minerva (Rounsavell) 
Drinkard, who died in 1861. 

Mr. Dean came with his parents to Iowa in 
1856 where he stayed two years when he went to 
Mercer County. When the Civil war broke out 
Mr. Dean enlisted in the 5th Kansas Cavalry for 
three years. He was in the battles of Helena, Arkan- 
sas and Pine Bluff. He was mustered out Sept. 3, 
1864 when he returned to his home in Mercer Coun- 
ty and began farming. He is one of this county's 
first school teachers, teaching both before and after 
the war. In 1864 the farm he purchased contained 
110 acres, but he bought and accumulated 90 acres, 
and sold parts of this until in 1902 when he sold 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY SIS 

it and moved to his present farm which contains 
60 acres. He is Hving a retired life. 

Mr. Dean is a member of the G. A. R. lodge 
and a Republican 




RESIDENCE OP MARION BECKNER 

W. F. DOWELL was born in Mercer County, 
Mo., Oct. 22, 1859. His father was Matthew 
Dowell, who has been dead seventeen years, and 
his mother was Mary (Scott) Dowell, who has been 
dead eight years. Mr. Dowell now resides on Route 
7, Trenton. 

He was married Sept. 2, 1884 to Lizzie Peery. 
They have had four children, three of whom are 
living. 

Mr. Dowell moved with his parents to Grundv 
County when he was two years old and settled on 
a farm near Parkerton. He lived there until he 
was grown. After his marriage he farmed for him- 



516 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

self for nine years then went to work at the black- 
smith trade. He farmed and learned the black- 
smith trade near Edinburg, then went to work at 
Dunlap where he stayed about a year. He then 
flioved near Shott where he bought an acre of land 
and started a blacksmith shop which he has con- 
ducted since. He does horse-shoeing and all kinds 
of repair work. 

Mr. Dowell's children are: Mabel, born June 
12, 1885, died Dec. 7, 1888; Jessie J., Feb. 12, 1889, 
at home; Pascal, March 5, 1892; and Nellie, May 
19, 1898. 

FRANK A. ELLIOTT, son of Thomas H. 
Elliott, deceased and Margaret (Harper) Elliott, 
who lives with her daughter, was born in Noble 
County, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1857. He now lives at Edin- 
burg, Mo. He was educated in the public schools, 
and Grand River College. 

Mr. Elliott was married Oct. 28, 1884 to Mary 
Roth, who was a native of Ohio, born June 16, 
1854 and came to Grundy County with her parents 
when a small child. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have 
had two children. George B. was born Oct. 27, 
1885; May, Oct. 31, 1889 and died Nov. 21, 189L 

Mr. Elliott came to Grundy County with his 
parents in 1869 and settled near Edinburg, where 
his father bought a farm. He lived there until 
grown, when he went to farming for himself. He 
then bought a place near Edinburg and farmed for 
ten years. At the end of that time he sold his farm 
and went into the mercantile business at Edinburg. 
In 1883 he formed a partnership with his brothers, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 517 

R. D. and Francis A. Elliott, the latter being his 
twin brother. In 1897 he was appointed post- 
master of Edinburg and served ten years until the 
office was discontinued. He was in business then 
for two years when they sold out. He resumed bus- 
iness two years later and has continued since. He 
later took his son into his business with him and the 
firm is known as Elliott & Son. Mr. Elliott taught 
school for two years, in 1879 and 1881. 

JOSEPH H. FANNING was born in Ohio on 
March 25, 1856. He now resides on Route 1, Spick- 
ard six miles south east of the city. His father was 
W. P. Fanning, born Nov. 8, 1834, and his mother 
was Sarah H. (Linch) Fanning, born in 1834, died 
in 1901. Both his parents were natives of Ohio. 

Mr. Fanning began working for himself at 
the age of fifteen. He, at one time, worked for the 
Rock Island, but he left that and went back to the 
farm. On June 19, 1881, he was married to Esther 
L. Simmerman, daughter of Erastus Simmerman, 
born March 1824, died Feb. 1882, and Rachel 
(Shaw) Simmerman, born May 1833. Mrs. Fan- 
ning was born Oct. 8, 1863. 

They have two children : Minta May was born 
Aug. 5, 1882 and married Benjamin Briegel, March 
14, 1906; Nellie Bernice, June 27, 1890, married 
Homer L. Layson, Jan. 28, 1909. 

Mr. Fanning owns a fine farm of 50 acres, 
is an old timer of the county and one of our most 
respected citizens. He is a Republican, a member 
of the Methodist church and Yeoman lodge number 
.885 at Trenton. 



518 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



F. E. FOX was born in Wisconsin, May 23^ 
1861. He now resides six miles southwest of Spick- 
ard on Route 4. His father was Myron Fox, born 
Oct. 17, 1827, died Sept. 29, 1904, and his mother 
was Lamira E. (Smith) Fox, born in Ohio, April 
14, 1831. 

Mr. Fox was married to Laura B. Taylor 
Feb. 19, 1888. Her father was Hon. T. J. Taylor, 
born in Brown County, Indiana, Sept. 15, 1839, 
died Sept. 29, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have two> 




RESIDENCE OF F. E. FOX 



children, Roy R., born Dec. 13, 1888 and Carl C.,. 
May 2, 1891. Mrs. Fox was born in Daviess Coun- 
ty, July 25, 1866. Her father was an old pioneer 
of the county, enlisted in the Union army as a 
private and was promoted to First Lieut. He was 
in the state legislature from 1882 to 1888. 

Mr. Fox came to Grundy County with his par- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 519 

ents when he was three years old. Three years 
after his marriage he moved to his farm north of 
the old homestead and lived there until 1904 when 
he moved to his present home. His farm consists 
of 200 acres is well improved and well stocked. 
The boys have taught school ; Roy in Spickard and 
Carl at his home school. Mr. Fox's parents came 
here in 1864 and settled on the farm where he now 
lives. His mother still lives with him. 

Mr. Fox is a Republican and a member of the 
Methodist church. 

W. O. GARNAND, son of John and Magda- 
line (Nida) Garnand, was born Jan. 1, 1842, in 
Roanoke County, Virginia. He left Virginia in 
1866, soon after his marriage, and came to Plaue 
County, Mo., where they lived five years, coming 
to Grundy County, where they bought a farm of 
247 acres four miles southeast of Spickard. He 
lived there until 1896 when he sold that farm and 
bought his present place of Henry Flesher, four 
miles north of Parkerton, in Harrison township. 
It consists of 225 acres. When the war broke out 
Mr. Garnand joined Co. E. 42 Virginia and served 
until the close. He was in all the big battles fought 
in Virginia and was so badly wounded at Fred- 
ericksburg as to make him a cripple for life. He 
was under Stonewall Jackson when that General 
was killed. After the war he returned to Virginia. 

He was married Dec. 25, 1865 to Miss Sarah 
J. Snuffer. She died Jan. 15, 1881, leaving six 
children, three of whom are living: Julia A., 
born Sept. 30, 1866, who married Paris Humphleet 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 521 

and died at the age of thirty; Archibald, Sept. 3, 
1868, now dead; John W., Dec. 1, 1870, now hvcs 
at Kansas City; George Sanford, Feb. 10, 1879; 
Rachel I., Feb. 10, 1879, married Arthur Libbev 
and died July 21, 1901 and Sarah M., Dec. 29, 
1881 now Mrs. H. T. Peery. 

Mr. Garnand was married to Miss Dora Sires, 
Sept. 12, 1883. They have had four children, three 
of whom are living: Luther M., was born Jan. 16, 
1887, died April 7, 1887; Judson E., Dec. 10, 1889 
at home; James S., Jan. 5, 1891; Roscoe N., Jan. 
15, 1893. Mrs. Garnand was born and reared 
near Spickard. She was born Feb. 1, 1855. Her 
father was John Sires, an old time pioneer. 

W. B. GORDON, son of Patrick and Sarah 
Gordon, was born in Oakland County, Mich., Aug. 
2Z, 1875. His mother lives in Michigan and his 
father died in 1899. He now resides on Route 6, 
Trenton. Mr. Gordon was married in March 1907, 
in Illinois, to May I. Whitten, daughter of Wm. 
Whitten. Mrs. Gordon was born near Brunfield, 
111., Dec. 23, 1881. They have one child, Otho John, 
M^ho was born Feb. 24, 1909. 

Mr. Gordon left home when he was grown and 
went to Flint, Mich., where he learned the meat 
cutler business. He then ran a meat market there 
for two years when he went to Peoria, 111., and went 
to work for the Peoria Buggy Co. He had charge 
of the crating department for a short time, and was 
promoted to general inspector. After two years, 
he went to Brunfield, 111., where he was engaged in 
farming until 1907. After his marriage he moved 



522 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUN'xY 

to Livingston County, Mo., where he leased a farm 
and remained a year. In 1908 he bought the Car- 
penter farm, which is eight miles northeast of Tren- 
ton and consists of 170 acres. 

Mr. Gordon is a member of the Maccabee lodge. 
Mrs. Gordon belongs to the Presbyterian church. 

W. D. GOSE was born in Tazewell County, 
Virginia, April 11, 1845. He came to Missouri 
with his mother and step-father, Capt. James A. 
Goodwin, in 1883. They settled a mile west of 
Edinburg on a farm and Mr. Gose lived there until 
he was married. He rented for four years, teach- 
ing school in the winter. He then bought his pre- 
sent farm, which then consisted of 140 acres. He 
later sold 60 acres. He makes a speciality of rais- 
ing alfalfa. 

Mr. Gose was a candidate for representative 
on the Democratic ticket in 1884 and 1900, runn- 
ing far ahead of his ticket. He was townshiD cl^^k 
and assessor for a number of years. He is a mem- 
ber of the South Methodist church and has been a 
delegate to the Annual Conference several trncs. 
At the meeting in 1907 at Moberly he succe^r-cd 
in introducing and having passed the anti-tobacco 
resolution, which prohibits the use of tobacco ani-^ng 
the clergy. 

Mr. Gose's children are: Samuel David, born 
Aug. 22, 1870, now a minister of Missouri <\m- 
ference M. E. church South. He is married and 
lives at Edgerton. Fannie, born April 30, 1872, 
is now Mrs. John E. Price and lives at Le Roy, Kan- 
sas. Edee, born Feb. 26, 1874, lives at home. Five 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 523 

cliildren died in infancy: Mattie M., born Sepi. iS, 
1882, died Sept. 8, 1898. 

WILLIE GRIFFIN, Jr., son of William Grif- 
fin formerly of Ohio, and Nancy (Bennett) Grififin 
of Wisconsin, was born in Grundy County, Sept. 
22, 1865. He now resides four and one half miles 
west of Spickard on Route 2, He married Miss 
Ellen Stanley Dec. 30, 1890. She was the daughter 
of Ellis Stanley, born in North Carolina, Aug. 23, 
1827, and Rebecca (Lakey) Stanley, born in North 
Carolina May 16, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have 
three children. Seth was born Nov. 11, 1892; John 
L., June 27, 1894; George, Dec. 13, 1897. Mrs. 
Griffin was born in Harrison County July 1, 1872. 

About twenty years ago Mr. Griffin began 
farming on a twenty acre farm, but he has accumu- 
lated land until he now has 240 acres. He makes 
a speciality of raising fine stock. 

Mr. Griffin is a Republican, a member of the 
Christian church and the I. O. O. F. lodge. 

H. A. HERTZOG, son of Peter and Hetty 
(Trick) Hertzog, was born in Berks County, Penn- 
sylvania, Oct. 19, 1842. He was educated at Mil- 
lersville. Pa., at the state Normal school. He was 
married to Kane Allen on Sept. 15, 1884. She died 
in 1897. Their children are: William Oliver, age 
twenty-three; Grover Cleveland, twenty-one; Anna 
Bell, nineteen; and Ruth, sixteen. 

Mr. Hertzog lived with his parents until lie 
was grown, teaching school and farming. He came 
to Ohio in 1869 where he located in the coal and 
iron mining district. Later he came to Iowa, where 



524 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

he was connected with the lumber and mining busi- 
ness. In 1879 he came to Grundy County. While 
in Grundy County, Mr. Hertzog has been in the saw 
mill and farming business. In 1902 he went into the 
rock business and is now proprietor of Riverview 
Rock Quarries and is doing an extensive business 
in Grundy County. 

Mr. Hertzog is a Democrat in politics. 

TYRUS HORTON was born in Vinton Coun- 
ty, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1840. He now resides on Route 
1, Trenton. He was married Dec. 20, 1865 to La- 
vina M. Berridge. She was born in Fairfield Coun- 
ty, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1841. 

They have had three children, two of whom 
are living. William N. was born Jan. 23, 1868. 
He was married Jan. 23, 1890 to Minnie Eckley. 
They have eight children and live on a farm adjoin- 
ing the home place. John, born April 5, 1872, lives 
at home; and Mary H., born Sept. 30, 1880, died 
May 21, 1899. 

Mr. Horton's father died when he was six years 
of age and he lived at home with his mother until 
1855 when he went to Illinois where he remained a- 
bout three years working at the carpenter trade. 
He then went to Iowa where he lived with his grand- 
mother until the war when he joined the First Iowa 
Cavalry and served three years and two months see- 
ing hard military service. He was in the detail 
which drove Quantrell out of Missouri. At the 
close of the war he went back to Iowa, studied for 
the ministry and was ordained a preacher of the 
Methodist church. He was a local minister for 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 525 

many years, but had no regular circuit charge. He 
inherited a farm from an aunt in Iowa and Hved 
there until 1897 when he sold it and moved to 
Grundy County, buying a two hundred acre farm 
three and one half miles north of Trenton. 

Mr. Horton is a member of the local Post of 
G. A. R. 

W. M. HOSTETLER was born Oct. 16, 1865 
in Illinois. He now resides on Route 1, four miles 
south and a half mile east of the city of Spickard. 
His father was Cornelius Hostetler, born in Penn- 
sylvania, in 1837, died Jan. 21, 1872. His mother 
was SalHe (Miller) Hostetler who was born in 
Pennsyvania, June 21, 1839. Mr. Hostetler was 
educated in the High School ot Arthur, 111. After 
his graduation he worked on the farm one year 
and then procured a position in a tile factory in his 
home town. After one year there he went back to 
the farm for one year and then married Miss Rilla 
Ray, Mar. 1, 1889. Her father was John Ray, born 
in Indiana, Sept. 16, 1840, died May 18, 1909, and 
her mother was Jane (Wilson) Ray, born Dec. 29, 
1842. 

After his marriage Mr. Hostetler bought a 
farm in Illinois and lived there twelve years when he 
sold it and bought another farm of 110 acres. At 
the end of four years he sold it and came to Grundy 
County and bought the Judge Breigel farm of 170 
acres, where he now lives. Mr. Hostetler is a Re- 
publican. 

He has six children. Lula was born Aug. 20, 
1889; Clara V., Aug. 26, 1891; F. Edward, Dec. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 527 

21, 1892; Clarence L., March 6, 1895; Willie Mc, 
Jan. 30, 1897; and Goldie E., Oct. 25, 1899. Mrs. 
Hostetler was born in Illinois, Aug. 15, 1868, and 
educated in that state. 

FRANK HUDSON, son of John S. and Arbel-- 
la (Hughes) Hudson, was born in Harrison Coun- 
ty, near Bolton, Dec. 6, 1886. He now resides in 
Brimson. He was educated in the public schools 
and Kirksville State Normal. He was married Dec. 



FRANK HUDSON 

23, 1906 to Nora L. Griffin, daughter of Charles 
Griffin of Mercer County. They have one child, 
Harry. 

Mr. Hudson lived with his father on a farm 
nine miles north of Brimson, until he was twenty 
years of age. He then farmed for two summers 
and on Jan. 1, 1909, went into partnership with 



528 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Tom Brown in the hardware and implement busi- 
ness at Brimson. They carry a $7,000 stock and dO' 
an extensive business. 

Mr. Hudson is a Repubhcan. 

J. W. HUGHES, son of James and Lizzie (Mack- 
ley) Hughes, was born in Virginia. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools. He was married Feb, 
11, 1866, to Nancy McAtee, daughter of David Mc- 
Atee. They have nine children. Priscilla Bur- 
nette, James E., Rosa Graham, John C, Garfield 
Holly Murry, Sampson S., Heberta and Audie 
Clair. 

Mr. Hughes came from Virginia to Grundy 
Conty with his parents and farmed until the time 
of the war when he joined the Union Army and 
served until the close of the war. After his mar- 
riage he worked out, accumulating enough to buy 
a 160 acre farm two miles south west of Brimson. 
Mr. Hughes' father died in 1849 and his mother 
later married Ely Fanning. 

CLAYTON HURT was born in Cooper Coun- 
ty, Missouri on March 8, 1837. He is the son or 
Clayton and Polly (Dillard) Hurt, the latter of 
whom was born Jan. 29, 1796. Mr. Hurt now re- 
sides three and one half miles north east of Spickard 
on Route 3. 

Mr. Hurt was married to Miss Cyntha Givens 
on Dec. 6, 1865. Her father was Alexander Givens, 
born Feb. 28, 1810, died in 1863. Her mother was 
Eliza (Harris) Givens, born March 6, 1815. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have five children. Edgar 
was born Sept. 27, 1866; Bettie F., June 18, 1871 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 529 

married Alfred Schooler; Alexander, Dec. 10, 1873, 
married Minnie Kirk; Mary Eliza, June 1, 1876, 
n^arried Mason Schooler; Bertie, Dec. 26, 1884, 
married Otis Sims. Mrs. Hurt was born Nov. 4, 
1842. 

Mr. Hurt worked at home for his father until 
he was twenty-one years of age when he bought 
a farm of 120 acres in Cooper County. He sold out 
and canie to Grundy County in 1892 when he bought 
the farm on which he now lives. It contains 203 
ocres. 

Mr. Hurt is a Democrat and a menu'.er of the 
Christian church. 

OTTO HAMILTON, son of John L. and Ma- 
tilda (Chilcoat) Hamilton, was born June 8, 1875 
in Mercer County eight miles northeast of Spick- 
ard His parents came to this county in 1868 from 
Ohio and resided on the Baker farm north of Tren- 
ton about two miles. 

He was married to Mertie Barnes, daughter 
of Thomas Barnes, on Sept, 27, 1896. After his 
marriage he commenced farming for himself in 
Mercer County on part of his father's farm whicii 
he bought and remained there five years, when he 
sold out and moved two and one half miles north 
west of Spickard. He remained there four years, 
sold it and bought a farm of 160 acres in the north- 
west corner of Franklin township where he remain- 
ed one year, sold it and came to Spickard, bought 
some valuable business property and engaged in the 
meat and grocery business. He is at present as- 
sociated with Mr. Van Dix in that business. They 



530 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

have an excellent trade and up to date stock. While 
on the farm he was a breeder of Berkshire hogs. 

He is a member of the Christian church at 
Spickard. 

His father, John L. Hamilton is a resident of 
Gait. 

W. N. HENDRICKSON, was born in Monroe 
County, Indiana, May 30, 1848. He now lives on 
Route 6, Trenton. He was educated in the public 
schools and Grand River College. 

He was married March 14, 1882 to Ida G. 
Gaines, born in Grundy County just east of Tren- 
ton, May 3, 1859. They have three children. Mat- 
tie was born Jan. 26, 1884 and is now Mrs. E. E. 
Ross at Eagle City, Okla. ; Gaines T., June 9, 1888, 
in Nebraska; and Elizabeth W., Sept. 28, 1894, at 
Gait. 

Mr. Hendrickson lived on the farm in Indiana 
tmtil 1863, when he came to Grundy County with 
his parents. His father came here first in 1856 and 
boug"ht the farm where Mr. Hendrickson now lives. 



'fe' 



Mr. Hendrickson's grandfather came here in 1854 
and lived here until his death in 1873. He lived at 
home until his marriage, in the meantime taking a 
four years' course in Grand River College. He 
afterwards spent twelve years as a teacher, and 
helped on the farm during vacation. He went to 
Nebraska in 1886 and taught school there for five 
years, at one time being county superintendent of 
schools in Custer County. When he returned to 
Missouri he taught for a few years. He moved to 
his present farm in 1901. It is seven miles north- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 531 

east of Trenton and belongs to the Hendrickson 
heirs under Mr. Hendrickson's control. 

H. F. HOFFMAN, son of C. A. and Magda- 
line (Fitterer) Hoffman was born near Carthage. 
Illinois, July 27 , 1860. He came to Trenton with 
his parents in 1866 and remained here until 1869 
when he moved to Chillicothe where his father went 
into the mecantile business. From there they went 
to Colorado in 1871 where they remained until 
1874 when they returned to Trenton where his 
father went into the grocery business. He worked 
in the store in the summer and attended school in 
the winter until 1878 when he took a course in the 
Quincy Business College at Quincy, 111. He re- 
turned in the spring of 1879 and went to clerking 
in his father's store, the firm then being Fitterer 
& Hoffman. In 1883 he bought his father's in- 
terest in the business and continued in that busi- 
ness until Oct 1888 when he was elected cashier 
of the Grundy County National Bank, now the 
Trenton National Bank, and continued in that place 
for four and one half years. 

In Aug. 1892 he entered into the mercantile 
business, and with others started the Farmers 
Store. It was small in the beginning, but is now 
the largest store to be found in a town the size of 
Trenton in the state. It consists of six stores in 
one, with 31,000 square feet of floor space. Mr. 
Hoffman is president of the company, the Hoffman, 
Merrill Mercantile Company and is interested in 
various other business enterprises. He has one of 
the most beautiful homes in north Missouri. 



532 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Hoffman was married Oct. 31, 1883 to 
Miss Nettie Stewart, daughter of Dr. Solomon Ste- 
wart. They have two children. Dale S., born Mar. 
21, 1888 and Steward F., April 13, 1895. Mr. Hoff- 
man's father still lives in Trenton. His mother 
died in the spring of 1909. 

He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge. 

GEO. N. HUCKINS, son of James M. and 
Helen (Briggs) Huckins, was born at Queen Cily 
Mo., Jan. 16, 1875. He now lives at Trenton. 

He was married Aug. 10, 1889 to Maude L. 
Reynolds, daughter of William Reynolds. They 
have two children. William N. was born Jan. 28, 
1900; Herbert R., Dec. 26, 1908. Mrs. Huckins 
was born at Green Top, Missouri. 

Mr. Huckins lived at Green City with his par- 
ents until he was about fourteen years of age. He 
then went to railroading and learned telegraphy 
working at it for several years. He then went to 
Kansas City, where he went into the employ of the 
F. G. Smith Piano Company learning tuning and 
the piano business in general. He traveled for sev- 
eral years tuning and selling pianos and in 1901 
started a music store in Trenton. In the spring 
of 1904 he sold out and went to St. Louis where 
he was in the employ of the Baldwin Piano Com- 
pany. In November of that year he returned to 
Trenton and started a music store and piano house. 
Mr. Huckins has one of the largest and best music 
houses in this part of the state. He is an accom- 
plished musician having studied at the conserva- 
tory at Kirksville, and it was largely through his 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 533 

efforts that the Trenton Conservatory was esta- 
bhshed. 

Mr. Huckins is a member of the Masonic lodge. 

HENRY JUDSON HUGHES, son of Geda- 
hah and Jane P. (Walker) Hughes, was born in 
Grundy County, Missouri, Jan. 30, 1858. He now 
lives at Trenton. He was married Dec. 30, 1879 
to Alice Austin, daughter of James and Susan Aus- 
tin. They have two children. Roy A., born Nov. 
5, 1880; Lela A., born Sept. 3, 1883, now wife of 
E. D Winslow of Little Rock, Arkansas; James 
B., was born April 8, 1891, died Sept. 24, 1904. 

Mr. Hughes lived on a farm until he was ten 
years old. He came to Trenton with his mother 
At the age of thirteen years he began working in 
a grocery store. He afterwards clerked for eight 
years for W. C. Benson. He was in the general 
merchandise business for eight years under the 
firm name of H. J. Hughes & Co. and in 1891 he 
engaged in the Real Estate and Farm Loan business 
in which he is still engaged. Mr. Hughes does a 
large land business and has been the cause of many 
farmers from Iowa and Illinois coming to Grundy 
County. Some years his business runs as high as 
$400,000. In addition to his Real Estate and Loan 
business, Mr, Hughes owns and operates a fine 
breeding farm three miles northwest of Trenton 
which is known as Hughesdale. He breeds the 
Dual Purpose Shorthorn cattle, and Duroc Jersey 
hogs. This is the home of Rowena Second, the cham- 
pion Dual Purpose cow at the St. Louis World's 



534 



HISTORY OF GRUHDY COUNTY 



F^ir. Hughesdale is now under the management 
of Roy A. Hughes. 

In 1907 Governor Folk appointed Air. Hughes 
one of the Regents of the Maryville Normal school 
for a term of six years. 

Mr. Hughes is a Republican, a member of the 
First Baptist church, and was chairman of the 
building committee when their present church was 
erected on Elm Street. He is a Mason and an Odd 
Fellow. 



JOHN M JOHNSON, son of Jesse Johnson 
who died seven years ago and Marmon Johnson al- 




MR. AND MRS. J( HN M. JOHNSON 



so deceased, was born in Hamilton County, Indiana 

April 3, 1861 He now lives on Route 6, Trenton. 

He was married Dec. 8, 1887 to Elizabeth 



536 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Groesback who was born at Lancaster, Iowa, April 
12, 1860. They have three children. 

Mr. Johnson was reared on a farm in Indiana. 
He began to plow corn at the age of nine years and 
has missed but one year since, that being on ac- 
count of sickness. He left home in 1879 and went 
to Iowa where he went to work on a farm. Later he 
leased land and finally bought the land he leased. He 
owned a farm in Iowa which he sold in 1907 and in 
the fall of 1908 he bought the J. O. Layson farm 
in Grundy County ten miles northeast of Trenton, 
and not far from Four Corners. It consists of 120 
acres. 

Mr. Johnson belongs to the Masonic and M. 
W. A. lodges and is a Republican. His mother died 
when he was only fourteen months old. 

B. B. KING was born in Leanordtown, j\Iary- 
land, April 29, 1852. He moved west to Dixon, 
Illinois with his parents in 1859. He lived in Chic- 
ago from 1861 to 1865 when he moved to Quincy, 
Illinois. He was educated at St. Michael's Col- 
lege at Toronto. Ont. In 1869 he started on a pre- 
liminary survey for the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific 
R. R., walkins^ across to the state of Missouri, to 
Star City, a point opposite Brownsville, Nebraska, 
the proposed terminus of the railroad. Geo. S. 
King, his father, was one of the incorporators of 
the road. He secured the right of way through 
Missouri and was a heavy investor of stock which 
proved to be a bad investment. In 1874 he enterel 
the train service and lost a foot in 1876. He went 



538 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

to Philadelphia to the Centennial. He married Miss 
Henrietta Wise of Leanordtown, Maryland. He 
moved to Hurdland, Missouri as agent for the O. 
M. & P. Railroad in 1878 and remained there 
until 1881 when he went to Gait, Missouri and 
opened up that station for the Wabash railroad. 
There being no houses until after the station was 
established at Gait, for a time he used a big stump 
as an office. There was only one house within the 
present limits of the city at that time. 

Mr. King remained in Gait until 1907 when 
he broke down with rheumatism and as a reward 
for his faithful service the company transfered him 
to Brimson where the depot was remodeled as it 
appears in the picture in order to make him a good 
home. 

Mr. and Mrs. King have had three children. 
Susie, Bennett (deceased) and Charles G. The lat- 
ter was born in Gait, learned telegraphy with his 
father and has held many responsible positions with 
various railroads. For a time he was in the dis- 
patcher's office in Trenton. He is now dispatcher's 
clerk at Pocatello, Idaho. 

Mrs. King with a nephew and niece from Kan- 
sas City were drowned early in the summer of 1908 
while attempting to drive across Sugar Creek dur- 
ing an overflow. Mr. King himself, his daughter 
and granddaughter barely escaped with their lives 
after a desperate struggle. 

D. B. KING was born in Grundy County, Mar. 
4, 1861. He now resides four miles east of Spick- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 539 

ard, on Route 5. His parents were N. W. and Mary 
E. (Roberts) King. 

Mr. King was married to Miss Ida Colley on 
Feb 1, 1885. She is the daughter of E. W. Colley, 
born in Ohio Dec. 16, 1830, died Feb. 2, 1901, and 
Mary (Colley), born Dec. 15, 1833, died May 
14, 1904. Mrs King was born Sept. 10, 1860. 

They have three children. Hugh was born 
Oct 23, 1886, married Alta Cartmill, Jan. 3, 1909; 
Mary, Dec. 29, 1888; and Bert, July 16, 1894. 

Mr. King began farming for himself when he 
was twenty-one years of age and after his marriage 
he farmed on the Colley farm for two years. He 
bought an eighty acre farm in Mercer County and 
farmed there for fifteen years. He then traded that 
farm for the one on which he now lives the John P. 
Schooler farm which consists of 120 acres. Mr. 
King is an extensive cattle feeder and raiser. 

He is a Republican, a member of the Christian 
church and the A. F. & A. M. and K. of P. lodges. 

E. G. KATHAN, son of Rufus and Lucy 
(Oilman ) Kathan, was born in Westbroom, Canada, 
Province of Quebec, Feb. 26, 1872. He moved with 
his parents to Linn County when five years of age 
and settled near Bucklin on a farm. He lived there 
with his parents until he was eighteen years old 
when he came to Trenton and started as clerk in 
the drug store of Dr. G. M. Roberts and attended 
the Trenton high school. Dr. Roberts died early 
in 1892 and Mr. Kathan then spent two years in 
the St. Louis college of Pharmacy, graduating in 
1893. He returned to Trenton and worked for C. 
A. Foster until 1898. He and Henry Roh formed 



540 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

a partnership in 1898 and bought the Jarman drug 
store on Ehn street. They continued in partner- 
ship until 1908 when Mr. Kathan bought out Mr. 
Roh. In the spring of 1909 he purchased the C. 
A. Foster drug store, combined it with his other 
store and moved the other stock to the C. A. Foster 
store on Water street. 

Mr. Kathan is president of the Trenton Ice 
Company, a director in the Trenton National Bank, 
owns the Elk Hotel and is interested in various 
other business enterprises. In 1905 and 1906 he 
was manager of the O. L. Gregory Vinegar factory 
at St. Louis, but he remained in Trenton during that 
period 

He was married June 5, 1900 to Miss Nora 
Cullers, daughter of Chas. H. Cullers. They have 
one child, Florence May, born June 28, 1905. 

GEORGE L. KENNEDY, son of Christian 
and Alargaret Kennedy, both of who'r- are dead, 
was born in Grundy County, Aug. 9, 1871. He 
now lives in Trenton. He lived on the farm until 
he was thirty-two years of age. He began carry- 
ing mail Dec. 15, 1904 on Route 6. He is secretary 
of county rural carriers association, has served as 
constable of Jackson township, and clerk of the dis- 
trict schools. 

Mr. Kennedy was married Jan. 30, 1904 to 
Amanda Briegel, daughter of John Breigel. They 
have two children, Mary Margaret, born March 20, 
1907 and Russel Dale born July 16, 1909. 

Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Christian 
church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 541 

A. P. LANGDON, son of Samuel W. and 
Sarah (Murrow) Langdon, was born six miles 
south of Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, Feb. 16, 
1853 He was married Nov. 2, 1877 to Nora Wat- 
son, daughter of William Watson of Van Buren 
County, Iowa They have four children : John, age 
28; Birdie (Seylock) age 26; Minnie (Miller) a^-e 
24 ; and Charles, age 22. 

Mr. Langdon lived on a farm with his parents 
until he was twenty-five years of age and then in 
1877 married and purchased a farm near Des Moin- 
es where he remained until 1881. His father died 
in that year and he moved back to the old hon'.c 
place and bought the entire farm of 250 acres. This 
farm had been entered as government land by his 
father and remained in the hands of father and son 
until Mr. Langdon sold it and moved to Grundy 
County in 1903. He purchased the old Judge Sha- 
fer farm of 295 acres. This land adjoins Edin- 
burg and Mr. Langdon has erected one of the pret- 
tiest home in that vicinity. 

Mr. Langdon is a breeder of fine draft horses 
and has one of the premium horses of the county. 

He is a Republican in politics. 

JAMES A\ LEGG was born in Pike County, 
Ohio. Jan. 1, 1850. His father was Noble Legg, 
born in Ohio in 1819, died in 1878, and his mother 
was Phoebe (Mustard) Legg, who died in 1875. 

Mr. Legg came to Iowa with his parents and 
stayed one year. He then came to Grundy and his 
father rented the old Wm. Clark place just soutn 
of Tindall. Twt« years later they bought the farm 



542 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

on which Mr. Legg now lives. He went to Colorado 
in 1873, but soon returned to his old home. His 
farm is located just north of Tindall and is well 
improved. 

Mr. Legg belongs to the I. O. O. F. and Rebe- 
kah lodges. He is a Republican in politics, and a 
highly respected citiezen. 

D. C. LEMLEY was born in Monroe County, 
Ohio, Aug. 28, 1851. He is the son of David 
Lemley, who died Feb. 24, 1894, and Sarah (Moore) 
Lemley, who died in 1879. He was educated in the 
West Virginia public schools and complected a 
course in the Misouri Auction school. 

He was married July 18, 1882 to Mrs. J. A. 
Webster, the widow of Dr. J. A. Webster, a promi- 
nent physician of Grundy County. Mrs. Lemley 
is the daughter of Lewis Brush, who died Feb. 7, 
1892, and Harriet (Wood) Brush, wdio now lives 
in Mercer County. 

Mr. Lemley moved with his parents from Mon- 
roe County, Ohio, when a small boy and w^nt to 
West Virginia where he lived on a farm with his 
father until 1869 when he moved to Grundy and 
remained one year. He afterwards moved to Kan- 
sas where they farmed for fifteen years and then 
returned to Grundy County and has farmed con- 
tinuously since that time except three years, which 
he spent in Kansas. 

At one time Mr. Lemley was a blacksmith. 
He graduated from the Missouri Auction School in 
1907 and since that time he has farmed and prac- 
ticed auctioneering. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 543 

J. A. LENHARDT, son of John and Clara 
(Breigel) Lenhardt, was born vSept. 9, 1874 in 
Franklin County Ohio. He came with his parents 
when a boy to Grundy, was educated in the public 
schools of the county and Avalon college at Tren- 
ton. He went back to the farm after he left school 
and stayed for three years. On Dec. 19, 1901 he 
was married to Fannie Hein, daughter of Valentine 
and Caroline (Kaw) Hein. Mrs. Lenhardt was 
born April 11, 1877 in this county. 

Mr. Lenhardt is the owner of Sans Louis, an 
American Percheron horse, pedigree number 35680, 
and Joseph Junior, a fine Kentucky bred Mammoth 
jack. He owns a good farm in Franklin township, 
well located. 

Mr. Lenhardt is a member of the Democratic 
party and the Lutheran church. 

JOHN LENHARDT was born in Germany, 
March 15, 1837. His father was John Lenhardt, 
who was born in Germany in 1809 and died in 1845. 
His mother was Lizzie (Miller) Lenhardt, also 
born in Germany. He was married to Clara Breigel 
daughter of Mike and Anna Breigel, in 1872 in 
Columbus, Ohio. They have three children. John 
A. was born Sept. 8, 1875, married Fannie Hein; 
Mollie, married Weldon Evans; Carl, born in 1890. 

After his marriage he stayed one year in Col- 
umbus, Ohio and then came to Grundy County and 
bought the Willoughby Keith farm in Franklin 
township in 1876. It contained 80 acres, but he 
afterwards bought another 80 acres. Mr. Lenhardt 
raises Short Horn cattle and fine horses. He is 2 



544 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Democrat and a member of the Lutheran church, 
Mr. Lenhardt is a man who is in love with his oc- 
cupation, consequently he keeps his farm well irr.- 
proved and has the best of live stock. 

MRS. SARAH P. LUKE, daughter of J. S. 
P. Marshall who came to Grundy County in 1839 
from Ohio, was born in Grundy County, Nov. 29, 
1841 She now lives on Route 6, Trenton. She 
was married to Thomas Luke April 1, 1860. Mr. 
Luke died April 5, 1909 in Oklahoma. Her son, 
S. D has lived at home with his mother all his life 
and has never married. 

Mr. Luke lived at home until his marriage. He 
then lived for a time where L. C. Lemley now lives, 
then moved to the farm now owned by C. D. Gass. 
He sold that and bought the farm where Mrs. Luke 
now lives. It consists of 80 acres and is three-four- 
ths miles east of Grundy Center church. 

Mrs. Luke belongs to the Methodist church. 
She has had ten children, six of whom are living. 
Nancy A. was born June 8, 1861 and is now Mrs. 
Ben Ralston of Trenton; Martha F., Nov. 9, 1862, 
now Mrs. Wm. Schlotterback; Mary M., March 30, 
1864. was the wife of John Brown, deceased; Abram 
L., Dec. 15, 1865, married and lives in Okla; Samuel 
L., Jan. 23, 1868, lives with his mother; Minnie 
Oct. 13. 1869, was the wife of Warren Thomp- 
son who died March 31, 1909; William T., Oct. 
15, 1871 married and lives in St. Joseph; Parmelie 
B., Dec. 10, 1873, died April 26,' 1895; Ruth A., 
July 21, 1879, married A. B. Berry; and Olive L., 
July 3\ 1886, was the wife of Charles King. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 545 

DR. E. J. MAIRS. son of Dr. W. J. and 
Catharine Mairs, was born in Sullivan Comuy, \)ec 
29, 1882. T:Te now reirides on Route 2, Trenton. 

He was married Sept. 7, 1904 to Bessie V. 
Lane. They have two children. Linda Catharine 
was born Dec. 11, 1905; Ruth, April 20, 1909. 

Mr. Mairs was born and reared at Newtow.i. 
He studied medicine with his father, while attend- 
ing the public schools. He then attended the Kirks- 
ville Normal and Medical department of the Wash- 
ington University at St. Louis graduating in 1903. 
He then entered the general practice of medicine and 
surgery with his father at Newtown. He continued 
in the practice for five years. He bought an intere -.t 
in the Bank of Newtown and was made cashier. 
Later he sold out his banking interest and bought 
his father-in-law's farm of 415 acres eight miles 
east of Trenton near Rural Dale church. This farm 
which is one of the best in Grundy County, Dr. 
Mairs sold in July, 1909. Mr. Lane makes his home 
with his son-in-law. 

D. C. MARRS is a native of Grundy County 
and was born near Edinburg, Feb. 13, l'S65. He lived 
in that vicinity only two years, however, when he 
moved with his parents to the Bushong place near 
Parkerton, then two years later to the place now 
owned by Bruce McNair in that same neighbor- 
hood. He lived there with his parents till 1885 and 
then moved with them to Nebraska where they 
remained four years. At the end of that time he mar- 
ried and started farming for himself, purchasing 
a farm near his fathers. He remained there six 



546 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



years and then selling his farm he moved to Arkan- 
sas, but remained there only a short time when he 
returned to Grundy County where he has since 
lived. He first bought the Dilley place near Spick- 
ard. Five vears later he sold that and bous^ht his 
present farm. It is on Route 7, a short distance 
north of Parkerton and consists of 130 acres of 
rich and well improved land. He does general 




RESIDENCE OF D. C. MARKS 

farming and raises high grade stock. 

Mr. Marrs was married Sept. 18, 1889 at 
Arnold, Neb. to Miss Susie Blue, a daughter of 
George Blue, of Trenton. She was born at Tren- 
ton, May 20, 1868. They had one child, Beulah, 
born Dec. 24, 1892, and died Nov. 14, 1901. They 
have both traveled extensively and in 1907 spent 
considerable time in Yellowstone Park. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 547 

Mr. Marrs is a member of M. W. A. and both 
are devoted Methodists, Mr, Marrs being a trustee, 
of the church and superintendent of the Sunday 
School at Hatton Chapel. 

N. T. MILLER, son of Wm. E. and Matilda 
(Garner) Miller, was born in Shelbyville, 111., April 
23, 1859. His father died when he was about six 
years of age and he lived on the farm with his 
mother until he was nineteen years old. He came 
to Grundy County with his mother in 1876 and lived 
on a farm southwest of town for four years, when 
he moved to Trenton where he has since lived. He 
drove a hack for several years and followed various 
occupations. He was deputy sheriff at odd times 
during that period. In 1905 he was made regular 
deputy under J. E. Estes and was reappointed by J. 
R. Dillon, with whom he is still serving as deputy. 

He was married Nov. 25, 1886, to Caddie E. 
Crick, daughter of James Crick. They have three 
children. Roy D., was born June 8, 1888; Minnie 
v., March 12, 1890; Julia, Jan. 31, 1897. 

THOMAS MILLER, son of J. B. and Sarah 
Miller, was born in Cedar County, Iowa, July 4th, 
1856. He is now in the mercantile business at Park- 
erton. the first station west of Trenton on the O. 
O. & K. C. Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ella 
Hoisington, daughter of C. A. Hoisington, Nov. 
19, 1893. They have one son, Charles B., born 
Dec. 19, 1895. 

Mr. Miller lived on a farm in Iowa till twenty 
nine vears old, then was in the mercantile business 



548 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

in that state for a short time. He conducted a hotel 
in Nebraska, raih'oaded in the same state, also in 
North Dakota, then returned to Iowa and remained 
a short time, coming to Grundy County in 1903, 
where he bought some land and a store at Parker- 
ton. He handles a stock of general merchandise. 
Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics. 

MARVIN H. MOONEY was born Jan. 11, 
1874 in Fairbury, Nebraska. He is the son of T. 
H. Mooney. He was married Dec. 25, 1894 to Cla 




MARVIN H MOONEY 

Wade, daughter of Boliver Wade of Gait. They 
have hiix children ; Harry, Elsie, Fred, Victor, Carol 
and Fdith. 

Mr. Mooney came to Gait, Grundy County, when 
a small boy, and has lived in the county almost all 
of the time since. He has long been a student of 
civil engineering. He was appointed county siir- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 549 

veyor in 1902, to succeed V. O. Hobbs who resigiiel 
was elected at the end of his term and has held the 
office ever since Mr. Mooney's experience in all 
manner of road building has been very extens-ve. 
He has made a specialty of the construction of 
roads and bridges. Having a large experience as 
contractor and employer of labor he knows how to 
get the best results out of his men. He employs re- 
liable workmen, and keeps every man in the proper 
place at the proper time. He was appointed County 
Highway Engineer in 1907 and had previous to 
that time been building bridges here. The loss to 
Grundy County bridges by the recent flood was far 
less than to any adjoining county. For instance, 
Grundy County's loss was only $2,000, Harrison 
County's over $30,000. 

JOHN MOORE, better known as "Uncle 
Jacky" is the oldest living resident of Grundy CotVir- 
ty with the possible exception of Charles Scott. He 
is a son of Levi and Rachel (Haines) Moore; he 
was born in Chariton County, Missouri, Sept. 14, 
1822. He moved with his parents to Randol]:>h 
County, from there to Daviess County, and when 
a small boy settled two miles north of where Gal- 
latin now is. He moved from there to where Trenton 
is now located in 1833 or 1834. His father raised 
a crop of corn near where the machine shops now 
stand at Trenton and it was entirely destroyed by 
wild pigeons, which nested by thousands in a scrub 
oak grove where the fair grounds now is. When 
Trenton was laid off Mr. Moore moved to the Val. 
Breigle farm. He served in the Mexican war, and 



550 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

took part in a number of fights with the Indians. 

He married Enimehne Wasson on May IS,, 
1849. They had five children, Nova Zembla Sublet, 
Bernettie, Selhsabel, Cordeha Ellen and Alary Em- , 
meline. His wife died in 1861. In 1862 he married 
Mary Flowers. They have two children, Fortre.-^s 
Monroe and John Mayland. 

He went to California, the leader of a band 
of emigrants, in 1850. The next spring he returned 
to Grundy County to take the families of his com- 
rades to California. He came from San Francisco 
across the Isthmus on foot, thence via Havana to 
New Orleans and up the river. Arriving here he 
received a letter from his friends that they would 
be home in the fall so he did not return. He joined 
the militia in 1862, and was second lieutenant of 
Company A. In I\Iay 1863 he joined the provi- 
sional militia and was elected first lieutenant and 
took part in one skirmish with the bushwackers 
under Anderson. When the militia disbanded he 
and Captain G. A. Spickard made up a company and 
went to St. Joseph, but finding the regiment nearly 
full, they returned home. 

Mr. Moore is active for a man of his age, and 
is one of the most interesting of talkers. 

OLIVER K. MUNN, son of Newton F. and 
Sofia Munn, was born in Logan County, Oliio, 
April 11, 1840. He now lives at Stockton, Rocks 
County, Kansas. 

He was married in Feb. 1864 to Sarah White. 
They had two children. William F. was born in 
1865 ; EHa, born in 1867. His first wife died about. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 551 

1869 and in 1873 he married Iva A. Wilson. They 
had one child, Letitia, born in Jan. 1875. His second 
wife died in 1880. He was post master at Spickard 
for seven years and justice of the peace for his 
township three terms. He practiced law for several 
years in Spickard. He lived in Ozark County, Mis- 
souri from 1892 to 1906 and at present lives with 
his son at Stockton, Kansas. He taught school for 
several years in Grundy County during the early 
days. During his residence in Grundy County Mr. 
Munn made many friends and has a large acquain- 
tance here. 

NELS NELSON was born in Sweden, May 
13, 1870. He lives on Route 6, Trenton. He was 
married May 3, 1892 to Selma Olsen, born in 
Sweden Aug. 19, 1870. They have six children. 
Eddie was born Jan. 8, 1893; William, Jan. 26, 
1895; Ethel, Dec. 23, 1896; Hulda, Jan. 24, 1900; 
Clara, Oct. 27, 1904; Harry, March 19, 1906. 

Mr. Nelson came to America in 1888, his father 
having preceded him about one year. They settled 
near Ea Salle, Illinois and Mr. Nelson worked in 
the cement business. He went to farming in thai 
state and farmed about six years. In 1907 he came 
to Grundy County and bought the Frank Vogel 
farm, which consists of 160 acres eight miles north- 
east of Trenton. Mrs. Nelson came to America and 
settled in Ottawa, Illinois. Although Mr. and Mrs. 
Nelson were born in the same county, they were 
not acquainted until they met in Ottawa. 

JOHN C. NICHOLS was born Jan. 9, 1841. 
His parents came to Grundy County in 1839 and 



SS2 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Nichols was the first white child born in Frank- 
lin township. His parents were Benjamin Nichols 
born in Harrison county, Kentucky, March 22, 1802, 
and Annie Houston Nichols, born March 18, 1810 
in Cumberland County Pennsylvania in 1810, Mr. 
Nichols now lives at Spickard. He was married 
Oct. 6, 1867 to Lizzie Tharp, now deceased. They 
had no children. 

Mr. Nichols was one of our pioneer teachers 
for two years. He farmed until 1884 when he en- 
gaged in the harness business in Spickard. In 1898 
he retired from business and in 1904 he went to 
California where he stayed for four years, return- 
ing to Grundy County in 1908. In 1862 he enlisted 
in Co. C. 23 Mo. Vol. Infantry and served three 
years. He also served six months in the M. S. M. 

Mr. Nichols is a brother of B. C. Nichols of 
Trenton. He is a member of the M. E. church and 
the A. F. & A. M. lodge. He is a Republican. 

HENRY T. PEERY, son of R. B. T. Peery, 
grandson of Geo. Peery and cousin of Stephen 
Peery, was born in the Forks of the River five miles 
north of the old Perry farm, May 9, 1869. 

He was married March 13, 1907, to Sadie Gar- 
nand, daughter of W. O. Garnand. They have one 
child, Dora Elenor, born Jan. 29, 1908. Mr. Perry 
died in Aug. 1909, after a short illness of appendi- 
citis. 

Mr. Perry spent his early life on the farm with 
his parents. In 19^00 he went into business for 
himself. His farm consisted of 444 acres, and is 
a part of the old Peeery farm, Mr. Peery having 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



553 



purchased it from the other heirs. He raised fine 
cattle and hogs and did general farming. He was 
one of the leading citizens of his community, a man 
of high character and solid business ability. 




MR. AND MRS. H. T. PRERY 

JOSEPH D. PROFFIT, oldest son of Lycur- 
gus A. and Mary F. Proffit, was born in Brook- 
field, Mo., Dec. 11, 1872. 

When two years old he moved to Grundy Coun- 
ty with his parents and settled in Harrison town- 
ship, where he remained until 1888 when he moved 
on a farm north of Gait. In 1891 he entered Hum- 
phreys College, and after his graduation from that 



554 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

institution he taught school in Grundy County for 
six years. He then came to Trenton where he 
clerked for A\\ A. McVay for three years, then 
traveled a year for the International Harvester 
Company, then worked for the Rock Island for three 
years. In March 1906 he entered the office of H. 
I. Hughes, taking charge of the office work, hand- 
ling the abstract and insurance work, keeping the 
books, etc., and is still employed in that office. 

Mr. Proffit was married Aug. 29, 1897 to Hat- 
tie B. McVay, daughter of J. W. McVay and Sarah 
McVay, and a sister of W. A. McVay. They have 
two children. Juanita, was born July 29, 1898; 
Delbert M., June 3, 1902. 

Mr. Proft'it is a member of the Odd Fellows 
lodge, past Grand W. O. W., Grand River Lodge, 
No. 52, Past Council Commander of Trenton Camp 
No. 19. He is a Republican in politics and he and 
Mrs. Proft'it are members of the Reorganized church 
of Latter Day Saints. He was made first super- 
intendent of their Sunday School in Trenton, Aug. 
9, 1908. 

MARCELLUS RATLIFF was born in Lewis 
County, West Virginia, July 19, 1827,. He lived 
in that state until twenty-three years old then two 
years in Butler County, Ohio, then one and one 
half years in Hancock County, 111., then to Wayne 
County, Iowa, coming to Harrison township in 
1863. He was married Dec. 30, 1849 to Miss Sarah 
Brown who was born in Lewis County, Virginia, 
May 20, 1831. Both his grandfathers foug'ht in 
the Revolution and the war of 1812. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 555 

Mr. and Mrs. Ratliff were the parents of ten 
children. Stephen F. was born Sept. 30, 1850; 
Ino R., May 12, 1852; J. N. Feb. 18, 1854; Jennie, 
bet 11, 1857; Rose Jan. 8, 1860; W. E., Nov. 20, 
1862; Thomas, May 27, 1871; three died in in- 
fancy. 

ViY. Rathff was one of the leading citizens of 
his part of the county, took an active part in public 
affairs and filled a number of offices. He was a 
level headed and substantial business man. 

W. E. RATLIFF, son of Marcellus and Sarah 
(Brown) Ratliff, was born in Wayne County, Iowa, 
Nov. 20, 1862. When he was about one year old 
he moved to Grundy County near where he now 
lives. He lived at home with his parents until he 
was twenty-two years of age. His father died then 
and he lived with his mother for two years, then 
went to farming for himself. He leased land for 
a few years after his marriage then bought several 
farms, selling them soon after. Among them was 
the Shott farm on which he lived three years. After 
he sold it he moved to Tindall where he lived about 
a year. He sold out there and went to Colorado, 
but remained only a short time when he returned 
10 this county, lived here a year, when he went to 
Daviess County and bought a farm near Jamesport 
in partnership with his brother. When he sold this 
farm he moved to Trenton for one year lived a 
year on a farm just east of Trenton then bought 
his present farm, in 1907. 

On the farm where he lives there are 880 acres 
and his brother. Newt, lives on a 200 acre farm. He 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUxNTY 557 

and his brother own the two farms in partnership. 
He does general farming and handles fine stoclc. 

Mr. Ratliff was married April 28, 1889 \o 
Lora Wilson, daughter of James C. Wilson who 
died March 28, 1908, and Sarah (Wisdom) Wil- 
son who died April 2, 1908. Mrs. Ratlifif was born 
in Trenton, Feb. 2, 1866. They have had six chil- 
dren, five of whom are living. Sylvia was born 
Nov. 20, 1892; Eva, May 24, 1895; Edna, Feb. 12, 
1898; Jason, July 8, 1900; Orville, June 7, 1902; 
unnamed infant, June 5, 1891, died July 25, 1891. 

W. T. RATLIFF, son of S. F. Ratlifif, who lives 
in Daviess County, and Martha Ratlifif, was born in 
Grundy County, Oct. 2, 1873. He now lives on 
Route 7, Trenton. 

He was married Jan. 7, 1903 to Wllma Brown 
daughter of E. J. Brown. They have had four 
children. Lula B. was born Nov. 9, 1903; Lloyd 
E., Oct. 30, 1904; Russell L., Oct. 12, 1906; Letha 
M., July 15, 1908. 

Mr. Rathffi lived on the farm at home until 
grown and he has spent practically all his life in 
the same locality. After his marriage he went to 
farming for himself. He went to Oklahoma in 
1906 and remained until March, 1908. He lived 
on the J. M. Drinkard place for one year then moved 
to the Bartee farm near Parkerton. It consists of 
160 acres. 

He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge. 

WILLIAM REID, one of the old pioneer set- 
tlers of this county, was born in Kentucky, Dec. 2, 
1811 and died Feb. 23, 1897 at Spickard, Mo. At 



558 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

an early date he came with his parents to Monroe 
County, Missouri, there met SalHe M. Thompson 
and married her on the 17th day of June 1834. Geo. 
Reid the subject of this sketch, was the fourth child 
of this union His father soon after their marriage 
moved to Grundy County, in Jan. 1839. At that 
time this country was a perfect wilderness, where 
the wolf's cries were heard, deer were plentiful 
and the Indians could be seen along the streams, 
but even though it was thus, he and his wife stayed 
and overcame all of the great inconviences. He 
was a Christian minister of great ability and for 
sixty years he preached to the people of this county 
and the adjoining counties, doing great good and 
while he spent his entire life in the ministry, his 
compensation was very meager. But aside from 
the ministry he engaged in what was known as the 
Carding Mill business on his farm west of Spickard, 
but later he embarked in the general mercantile bus- 
iness at Middlebury, Missouri. He was a man well 
known throughout the entire country for his great- 
ness as a minister and there are many living monu- 
ments to his memeory. 

His son George Reid, was born in Grundv 
County, Dec. 4, 1850. In 1869 he married Miss 
Previa Adams and to this union six children were 
born, five of whom are living. Thomas L. was born 
July 25, 1870. married Alta Howe; Ella, Aug. 27, 
1872, married John Higgins, Sallie, March 15, 
1874, married Grant Tharp; Taylor, July, 1881, 
married Ethel Pearson; Eva, May 11, 1890, mar- 
ried Albert Kessler. After Mr. Reid's marriage he 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 559 

moved to his farm ten miles east of Spickard, sold 
this, bought the farm on which Robert Browning- 
now lives, and lived there until he moved to Spick- 
ard about twenty years ago. He has been in the 
hotel business in Spickard for twenty years and it 
has been his utmost effort to please the traveling 
men and those who may stop with him. Mr. and Mrs. 
Reid are very sociable and have a host of warm 
friends, throughout the country. Mrs. Reid was 
born in Iowa, Feb. 22, 1852, was educated in Illi- 
nois and at Trenton. Mr. Reid's father probably 
received more people into the church than any other 
minister in the county and married the first couple 
in this county. 

MRS. PHIL ROBINSON was born in On- 
tario, Canada, April 12, 1836. She now resides at 
Gait, Missouri. Her father was David Stillwell, 
born in England in 1808. Her mother was Mar- 
garet (Moore) Stillwell, born in New Jersey in 
1812 and died in 1882. 

Mrs. Rcbinson married Phil Robinson, jane 
9, 1859. They have four children. Thomas was 
born May 31, 1860; Kate, Dec. 22, 1861, Charles, 
Feb. 3, 1864. and George E., June 17, 1866, died 
Oct. 17, 19tj7. Mr. Robinson was the son of Tho.'^.as 
Robinson who was born in New Jersey in 1-^07 and 
and died in 1863 and Amelia (Vastbinder) Robin- 
son born in 1811 and died in 1895. 

Mrs. Robinson came to Illinois at the age oi 
nineteen. She clerked in a store in Annawari n^ar 
Rock Island and after one year she taughi school 
for three years when she married. Thev IKed in 



560 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 

Illinois one year then moved to Grundy Coimty on 
their farm just west of Gait. The farm contains 
160 acres. They lived on the farm for ten years, 
went back to Illinois, stayed two years, h'\^e<1 in 
Chillicothe two years, went back to the farn) tor 
one year then to Lindley for six years in tlie milli- 
nery business, then went back to the farm. T- ISSJ 
she came to Gait and has been in the millinery busi- 
ness ever since. At the death of Mr. Robin'-on 
the estate was divided among the children witlioul 
any administration or any difificulty. 

Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Eastern 
Star. 1 

C. \A\ SCOTT, son of John and Charlotte 
(Meek) Scott, w^as born in Daviess Coun^.v, Aug. 
2. 1(S33. He has resided in Grundy County since 
the fall of 1833, hii^ father having' come lier(; and 
planted a crop in the spring of that year. He set- 
tled near Edinburg where his father entered land. 
His mother died in 1849 and he and his father starr- 
ed for the gold fields of California, a few months lat- 
ea. They went by way of Nebraska and his father 
died on the way. ^Nlr. Scott continued his journey and 
remained in California for about four years. On 
his return he made the trip by water to Panama 
and there on home to Grundy County where he has 
since lived. He then bought his present farm in 
Harrison township eleven miles northwest of 
Trenton, on Route 1, Brimson. It consists of 420 
acres. 

Mr. Scott was married Nov. 3, 1854 to Sarah 
Thornburgh, daughter of Wm. Thornburgh. 1 liey 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 561 

have nine children, eight of whom are Hving. 

He belongs to the Methodist church and is a 
Republican. 

Air. Scott's parents came to Grundy County 
and settled in the forks of the river in company 
with Dr. Thompson who is said to be the ' first 
settler in Grundy County. Between him and "Uncle 
Jacky Moore" lies the honor of being the oldest 
living resident of Grundy County. 

GEO ISAAC SPICKARD was born in Grun- 
dy County, Alarch 29, 1856. His father was George 
A. Spickard, born in Highland County, Ohio, died 
May 30, 1899 in Grundy County, and his mother 
was Mary A (Thompson) Spickard born in Boone 
County, Missouri, Feb. 14, 1829, and still lives at 
the old homestead one mile west of Spickard. 

Mr. Spickard lived with his parents except one 
year in California, until his marriage to Emily J, 
McHargue, Sept, 9, 1883. They have one son liv- 
ing, Charles Shelby, born Aug. 14, 1887, now in a 
barber shop at Spickard. Mr. Spickard started in 
the business of farming for himself at hi.s marriage. 
He owned and lived on a farm in Mercer County 
seven years, but sold it a few years ago and is now 
living on a part of the old homestead west of Spick- 
ard. Mr. and Mrs. Spickard are of pioneer stock 
coming from Grundy County's first and best fam- 
ilies. 

Mr. Spickard is a Republican, a member of 
the A. F. & A. M. lodge and he and Mrs. Spickard 
are members of the Christian church. 



562 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

PARIS C. STEPP was born in Monroe Coun- 
ty, Indiana on May 17, 1845. He lived there with 
his parents until 1853, when his parents moved to 
Grundy County on a farm. In June 1864 he en- 
listed in the United States service as a private -n 
Company E. of the Twelfth regiment of Missouri 
volunteer cavalry. He was promoted to coporal 
and then to acting sergeant. He was with General 
Hatch in the fight at Eastport. He also fought in 
the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. After 
the war he returned to Grundy County and com- 
pleted the high school course under Dr. R. C .Nor- 
ton, attended the University of Bloomington, In- 
diana and then engaged in teaching. In 1870 he 
began to study law in the ofifice of Col. John H. 
Shanklin and was admitted to the bar in 1874. He 
represented his county in the lower house of the 
legislature from 1876 to 1878. After that he was 
elected Probate judge for the term of four years. 

He was married to Mary E. Fleming, Nov. 
24, 1872. They had one child, W. Dale, born in 
Trenton, Sept. 12, 1873. 

Mrs. Stepp died Oct. 3, 1901. Judge Stepp was 
married to Carrie Evans, daughter of J. B. Evans of 
Princeton, July 11, 1905. 

He was elected circuit judge in the year 1892 
and served twelve consecutive years on the bench 
winning an enviable reputation as an able and im- 
partial jurist. Judge Stepp is a man of high char- 
acter, a member of the Christian church and has 
exerted a potent influence for good in public affairs 
in Grundy County. He left this county in 1907 and 
his present home is in Riverton, Wyoming. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 563 

W. D. STEPP, son of Judge P. C. and Mary 
(Fleming) Stepp, was born Sept. 12, 1873. He was 
married to Mable H. Rockwell, daughter of Orson 
j". Rockwell of Trenton, Sept. 24, 1902. They have 
One daughter, Mary Isabelle, born Aug. 12, 1903. 

Mr. Stepp is a grauate of the Trenton high 
school and attended the law department of the Mis- 
souri University. He was admitted to the bar 
bar April 15, 1895. Prior to his graduation from 
the Trenton high school, he completed a course in 
the Gem City Business College. He worked for 
a time with the Trenton Tribune when that paper 
was owned by his father and C. D. Morris. He was 
stenographer for the circuit court of this judicial 
circuit for about four years. On his admission to 
the bar Mr. Stepp entered the law office of Schooler 
& Kelso and for a considerable time during the 
sickness and absence of the partners practically had 
charge of the firm's business. He also held position 
of Assistant Postmaster under C. D. Morris. With 
his father and O. N. Gibson he organized the ab- 
stract, real estate, law and insurance firm of W. 
D. Stepp & Co., in June 1904, which firm was suc- 
ceeded by Stepp, Warden & Co., Judge Stepp retir- 
ing in Dec. 1907 

Mr. Stepp was largely instrumental in organiz- 
ing Co. D., Fourth Missouri Infantry N. G. Mo. 
Upon the organization of that company, May 5, 
1902, he was made First Lieut, and received the 
Captain's commision Dec. 12 of the same year. He 
was promoted to Major of the Fourth regiment, re- 
ceiving his commission, July 24, 1909. 



564 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

W. H. STRATTON, son of Reese B. and Lillie 
J. (Deskins) Stratton, was born in Grundy County 
tiear Edinburg, Feb. 7, 1866. He now lives on 
Route 7, Trenton. He was married Aug. 16, 1887 
to Martha A. Johnson. She died April 26, 1899. 
He was married to Liza Williams July 6, 1902. She 
is a daughter of Thos. H. and Laura Williams. 
She was born near Spickard April 30, 1881. They 
have two children. Henry Clare was born Aug. 15, 
1903; and W^illiam Guy, Oct. 19, 1905. 

Mr. Stratton's father came to this county very 
early and died in 1869. His mother has lived in 




RESIDENCE OF W. H. STRATTON 



this county for sixty years and at present makes her 
home with him. Mr. Stratton moved with his par- 
ents to Daviess County when he was a baby and 
lived there two years when they moved back to 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 565 

Grundy County and settled in the "forks of the 
river." He lived at home with his mother until his 
marriage when he went to farming for himself. He 
bought a farm in the "forks of the river" just nortii 
of his present place, sold that and bought the old 
home place near Hatton Chapel where he lived 
seven years. He then bought his present farm 
three and one half miles northwest of Parkerton. 
It consists of 100 acres. 

Mr. Stratton is a member of the Odd Fellow 
lodge and he and his wife both belong to the Re- 
bekahs. He is a member of the Baptist church. 
Mrs. Stratton belongs to the Christian church. 

HENRY C. SYKES was born December 10th, 
1838 on a farm in East Rupert, Vermont, the third 
in a family of five children. His father, Milton 
Sykes, was of English descent. ]Mr. Sykes was 
reared in East Rupert and received his education 
in the common schools of that district. After at- 
taining his majority he still made his home with his 
parents until 1869, when he emigrated to Missouri, 
where his brother, A. K. Sykes, had preceded him 
by ten years. For a few years he worked a farm 
six miles southeast of the county seat and in 1873 
purchased a half interest in the marble shop of R. 
A. Collier. In 1877 he became sole proprietor and 
remained so until 1904, when he disposed of his 
business and retired from active life. He died INIarch 
13th, 1906. 

Mr. Sykes was married April 30th, 1874 to 
Helen A. Cluff of North Granville, New York. Four 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Svkes. Ernest 



566 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

M. was born October, 2nd, 1875, became a practic- 
ing veterinarian and died October 7th, 1903. Lucy 
B. was born October 17th, 1878, and died December 
25th, 1882. Harry C. was born January 30th, 
1886, and died March 14th, 1900. A. Kent was, 
born November 8th, 1890. 

PROF. HARRY BURNELL SCHULER is 
a native of Iowa and was born at Odeboh of that 
state in the early eighties, spending his early life 
with his parents in that city. He early developed 
a taste and talent for music, playing the organ when_ 
but four years of age and playing for church when 
but nine. He began the systematic study of music 
when eight and began teaching at the age of six- 
teen. His training has been broad and his exper- 
ience varied and extensive, both as a teacher and 
a concert singer. 

He studied piano with Myrtle Lee, Dakota 
Wesleyan University, Edgar A. Nelson, Bash Tem- 
ple Conservatory, Chicago, Ernesto Consolo, Chic- 
ago Musical College. His voice work was done 
with Wm. Clair Hall, dramatic tenor of Chicago, 
While in that city he was organist for several promi- 
nent churches and choir director and soloist at the 
Jefferson Park Presbyterian church. 

During the year 1908 he had charge of the 
voice department of the Maryville Conservatory 
of Music and was teacher with Mr. Landon in the 
piano department, being also director of the choir 
and organist of the Methodist church. 

Last June he gave up the work at Maryville 
and came to Trenton where he organized the Tren— 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 567 

ton Conservatory of Music, opening June 28, and 
has also been employed to direct the choir at the 
Christian church. Associated with him are Miss 
Maude Nordyke, teacher of piano and voice and 




HARRY BURNELL SCHULER 

Miss Blanche Bartlett, piano and class work. The 
school has its headquarters in the Odd Fellows 



568 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

building and is having great success. Diplomas 
are granted on the finishing of a course in any de- 
partment. 

L. C. SAPPENFIELD, the pastor of the First 
Methodist Episcopal church of Trenton, was born 
in Illinois. Part of his boyhood was spent in Ind- 
iana. After the completion of his education he spent 
several years teaching in the public schools of 
Missouri. 

In 1876, he joined the St-Louis Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. He was pastor 
of the following churches in that conference ; Mar- 
ble Hill, Salem, Licking, Richland and West Plains. 
He was then appointed presiding elder of the Le- 
banon District and served six years. He was then 
sent to the Arlington church Kansas City, Mo. 
After a pastorate of four years there he was sent 
to First church Hannibal and then to Brookfield. 
After serving Brookfield four years he was ap- 
pointed presiding elder of Kirksville District and 
served it six years and was then appointed pastor 
at Trenton. 

ROLLA E. SHORT, son of Dr. R. T. and 
Melissa (Fowler) Short, was born at Mechanics- 
burg, 111., Oct. 10, 1856. He went to school at 
Grand River College. He was married April 27, 
1882 to Detha Smith, daughter of Edwin Smith, 
They have one child. Homer Lee, born August 3, 
1884. 

Mr. Short lived in Illinois until 1866, when 
he came to Grundy County with his parents and 
settled at Edinburg, where his father practiced 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



569 



medicine ten years, then came to Trenton where 
he hved until his death, Sept. 6, 1892. Mr. Short 
also came to Trenton and engaged in the drug and 
grocery business for several years. He was de- 
puty postmaster two years under C. D. Morris, al- 
ter which he entered the service of the Rock Island, 
having charge of the air brake department. In ilie 
summer of 1909 he was compelled to give up this 
work and go to Kansas City on account of the ill- 
ness of his wife. 

The Rev. M. G. Fowler who established the 
first Methodist church in Trenton was a grand- 
father of Mr. Short. 

He is a member of the O. R. C. of A. 

W. C. STUART was born at Harlinsburg, 
Penn., May 26th, 1871. He lives on Route 3, Tren- 




RESIDENCE OF W. C. STUART 



570 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

ton, Mo. He was married to Nellie Clingingsmith, 
Dec. 25th, 1901. They have three children: Lloyd 
Everett, born July 25th, 1903; Ernest Aurthur, 
November 30th, 1905; and Nellie Lorene, April 
5th, 1908. 

Mr Stuart lived in Pennsylvania until eight 
years old, when he moved with his parents to Wy- 
oming, Iowa. He lived here six years, where he 
attended school and worked with his father in the 
creamery business. He went then to Kansas where 
he remained seven years and engaged in farming, 
then came to Missouri and lived fora time in Mer- 
cer County, near Mill Grove, and for a time in 
Livingston County. In 1901 he came to Grundy 
County, and lived south east of Trenton. He bouglit 
the Orlominski place in the spring of 1909, con- 
sisting of sixty acres of well improved land, and 
has leased a hundred and twenty acres of land ad- 
joining, giving him a well improved grain, hay and 
stock farm. 

D. S. SWANK, son of Jacob Swank, was born 
in Grundy County, Nov. 3, 1870. He lives on 
Route 3, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Swank was married 
to Leona Belshe, daughter of Calvin Belshe, Feb. 
27, 1895. They have three children; Fauntine C, 
born May 25, 1896; Foster F., Oct. 21, 1900, and 
Leota, Sept. 16, 1902. 

Mr. Swank lived at his old home uatil married 
when he moved to his present home, on an eighty 
acres inherited by his wife from the Belshe estate 
and afterwards buying one hundred acres adjoin- 
ing, making him a well improved farm of one hun- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



571 



dred and eighty acres. He makes a specialty of 
raising a fine grade of cattle, hogs and horses. He 
has also 120 acres lying east of Honey Creek. 

In 1908 Mr. Swank leased his farm and went 
to Montana where they remained about a year re- 
turning in the spring of 1909 and taking charge of 
his farm. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Swank are members of 
pioneer families of the county. 




W. A. SHULLENBERGE« 
Pastor of the Christian Church, Trenton, Mo. 



572 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

SAM TERRY, son of Ashley Terry, was born 
Sept. 8, 1854, in Daviess County. He moved with 
his parents to the old home place in Grundy Coun- 
ty west of Trenton, where he lived until grown and 
'married, when he returned to Daviess County, near 
Bancroft, living there until 1892, and farming, 
Mr. Terry then leased the Daviess County farm 
and returned to the old home place, which he later 
bought. The farm at first consisted of one hun- 
dred acres, which Mr. Terry increased to four hun- 
dred. He bought the Jackson farm of two hun- 
dred acres, four miles north of his home, in the first 
part of the year 1800, and moved to this farm in 
March of that year. 

Mr. Terry was married to Ella Price, daugh- 
ter of J. F. Price, Aug. 20, 1876. They have one 
child, Ethel Olive, born Oct. 12, 1883.' She was 
recently married to Thomas Jackson, a son of E. 
Jackson. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Terry belong to old pioneer 
families of the state. 

W. H. TAVENER, son of John and Mary 
(McCarty) Tavener, both of whom are dead, was 
born in Cooper County, Missouri, May 13, 1863. 
He now lives seven miles northeast of Trenton. He 
was married Jan. 23, 1890 to Lizzie Hosom, daugh- 
ter of A. J. Hosom. Mr. and Airs. Tavener have 
three children. Almeta M., was born Nov. 15, 
1890 and lives at home; Judson P., Aug. 21, 1892, 
at home; and Mattie O., July 30, 1897. 

Mr. Tavener lived in Cooper County until he 
Avas twenty-three years of age. After his marriage 



574 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

he bought his present home in Grundy County, and 
went to farming for himself. His farm consists 
of 50 acres on the home place, 40 acres on Muddy 
Creek and 20 acres on the river. He does general 
farming and stock raising. He is collector of Lin- 
coln township and has been for a number of years. 
The family belong to the Baptist church. 

FRED W. THOMPSON is a son of James 
Thompson, who has been dead several years, and 
Cinderella Thompson who lives at Trenton. He was 
born in Davis County, Iowa, Oct. 10, 1874. He 
now lives on Route 1, Trenton, Mo. 

Mr. Thompson was married March 8, 1900 
to Mrs. S. R. Doan whose maiden name was Anna 
B. Legg and who is a daughter of Bourter Legg. 
Mrs. Thompson had one child by her first marriage, 
Grace Ottelee Doan, who was born Dec. 30, 1891. 

Mr. Thompson came to Grundy County with 
his parents when seven years old and settled in 
Trenton. They moved to a farm west of Trenton, 
the old Steve Peery place, the following spring and 
there Mr. Thompson lived until grown. He was 
in the employ of the Rock Island from 1902 to 1907 
buying the farm where he now lives in the latter 
year. He has sold the farm, however, to N. R. 
Tracy and will give possession March 1, 1910 when 
he intends to go to Kansas City to complete the 
education of his step-daughter who is now a grad- 
uate of the Trenton high school. 

Mr. Thompson owns three residence properties 
in Trenton. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 575 

WINFIELD SCOTT VAWTER is a member 
of one of the most famous families in the country 
and can trace his ancestry back centuries before 
the Revolutionary war. The family orginally went 
from France to England where they played an im- 
portant part in that country's history. In 1865 
three brothers came from England and settled in 
Massachusetts and later took a prominent part in 
affairs in that early time, their descendants doing 
much in shaping our country in its early history. 
Mr. Vawler is a direct descendant of one of these 
brothers. 

He is a son of William and Matilda Vawter 
and was born in Shelby County, Mo., March 2C, 
1873. His father is a native of Iowa and served 
with distinction during the Civil war, in Co. G. 
11th Mo. Cavalry. During this conflict his eyes 
were so badly injured that in later years he be-, 
came totally blind. In 1893 he went to live with 
his son, W. S. Vawter who was then at Brashear. 
On the removal of that gentleman to Trenton in 
the summer of 1909 he came with him and still re- 
sides with him in this city. 

Mr. Vawter was educated in the public schools 
of Missouri and moved to Adair County when small, 
settling at Brashear. He was engaged in the mer- 
cantile business at Brashear for about five years 
using his spare monents during that time in the 
study of law, his preceptor being Judge Blair. He 
was admitted to the bar in May 1899 and practiced 
successfully at Brashear until the summer of 1909 
when he moved to Trenton. Mr. Vawter served 



576 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

several times as mayor of Brashear. He is an 
ardent Republican and has always taken a deep 
interest in politics although persistently declining- 
office. He also takes a deep interest in lodge work 
and has held high offices in both the Masonic and 
Odd Fellow lodges. He is a student of literary 
and historical subjects as well as an able and well 
read lawyer. 

Mr. Vawter was united in marriage Oct. 28, 
1908 to Miss Minnie Barnhart. They have one 
child, Wm. B., born Aug. 16, 1909. 

JOHN F. WOLZ was born in Grundy Coun- 
ty, Aug. 27, 1840. He is the son of George Con- 
rad Wolz born in Germany, in 1804, died in 1890 
and A. '1. Marie (Fisher) Wolz, born in Germany 
in 1813, died in 1897. Mr. Wolz lives six miles 
east of Spickard on Route five. He was married 
March 31, 1864 to Sarah Evans. Her father was 
John Evans, born in Ohio Oct, 28, 1799, died March 
22, 1875; her mother was Martha (Cherry) Evans, 
born April 14, 1801, died Aug. 16, 1870. 

Mr. and Mrs Wolz have had five children. 
George C. was born Feb. 4, 1865, died Jan. 23. 1886; 
Maria M., Dec. 23. 1866; Mary Elizabeth, Dec. 18, 
1858, married Frank Ashbrook, Dec. 17, lS'r'3; 
Wm. F., March 19, 1871, married Emma Kisterson; 
Sarah Jane. Aug. 24, 1874, married Norton Burke- 
holder, June 11, 1903. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wolz mov- 
ed to their new home, a log house. The farm was 
know as the Dicky Minshall place. He began farm- 
ing with 160 acres. He now owns a large farm in 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 577 

Grundy County, two ranches in Texas and is the 
heaviest stockholder of the Sweet Water rancJi 
w^hich contains 5920 acres. He is president of the 




JOBN \V0L2 



old Bank of Spickardsville and is connected with tfie^ 
Trenton National Bank, Citizen's State Bank, Na- 
tional Bank of Commerce at Kansas City and the- 
Commerce Tru-t Company at Kansas City, the' 
Sp'jer J^ank at Princeton, the State Bank at Here- 
ford, Texas and has stock in the Tola Portland Ce- 
mem Company. 

W. A. WILSON, son of Albert W^ilson who 
was born Aug. 25, 1838, and died April 25, 1903, 
and Rachel (Carr) Wilson, was born in Grundy 
County, April 3. 1864. He now resides two miles 
northwest of Spickard on Route 4. He married Miss 



578 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Belle Smith May 19, 1889. She is the daug-hter of 
William Smith, born July 19, 1823, died Nov. 17, 
1907, and Charlotte (Barrow) Smith, born Jan. 31, 
1831, died Jan. 10, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have 







MR. AND MRS. W. A. WILSON 



two children. Lula was born Nov. 4, 1892; Bonnie 
Cloe, June 23rd, 1900. Mrs. Wilson was born in 
Mercer County, March 19, 1869. 

Mr W^ilson's parents died when he was very 
young- and he was raised by his grandparents. He 
stayed with and cared for them until their death. 
His aunt, Marv T. Wilson, also lived with him until 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 579 

her death. He was given the old Wilson farm of 
80 acres^ but he sold it and bought the place where 
he now lives. 

Mr. Wilson is a Republican and a member of 
the K. of P. lodge. 

Mrs. Wilson's father came to the United States 
from England in 1852 and w^orked for ship build- 
ing contractors in New Jersey for thirteen years 
when he came to Missouri. He was also a fine 
penman and Mrs. Wilson has a book of his work 
which is very interesting. 

W. T. WILSON, son of James C. and Sarah 
Wilson, was born in Trenton Feb. 16, 1863. He 
now lives on Route 7, Trenton. 

He was married Sept. 1, 1889 to Mary Weigel 
daughter of David Weigel. Mrs. Wilson was born 
in Daviess County, Feb. 12, 1870, and came to this 
county when she was two years of age. They have 
had five children, four of whom are living. Albert, 
was born July 27, 1890 and died Aug. 28, 1891; 
Thomas L., June 18, 1893; Charles E., March 18, 
1895 ; Clara M.. Nov. 26, 1901 ; and Paul W., Mar. 
3, 1906. 

Mr. Wilson moved with his parents from Tren- 
ton to a farm near Tindall when he was three years 
old. After his marriage he bought the Weigel place 
and lived there about ten years. He was then ap- 
pointed superintendent of the Poor Farm and ser- 
ved three years. He then resigned, sold his farm 
near Tindall and bought his present farm which 
is two and one half miles north of Parkerton and 
!\vo and one half miles west of Tindall. The farm 



580 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

consists of 160 dCres. \[r. Wilson raises Duroc 
Jersey hogs, Jersey cattle, and makes a specialty of 
shipping; cream Mr. Wilson's father came to 
Grundy in 1838 and was a resident of Grundy 
County for nearly seventy years. His mothe:" waS 
a mei.^ber of an old time Grundy Count v Li: Mil)' 
and a sister of Thomas Wisdom. His father died 
March 12, 1907 and his mother died a week later. 



A. F. WELCH was born in Licking County, 
Ohio, Oct. 29, 1854. He moved to Grundy County, 
Missouri in 1877. He was married to Carrie B. 
Howsman, daughter of W. H. Howsman, April 1, 
1888. They have one child, Nell B. Welch, born 
Feb. 12, 1890. Mrs. Welch was born Jan. 15, 1870. 

For five years after coming to this county 
i\Ir. \\'elch farmed near Trenton. He then moved 
to Trenton and went into the grain and implement 
business with W. H. Howsman and remained in 
this business seven years. He then engaged in 
the hardware business for three years and after 
selling out served as deputy sheriff for Mit Winters, 
serving in this capacity with Jacob and W. C. 
Myers and is still a deputy under J. R. Dillon. He 
has served as constable of Trenton township four 
terms, being re-elected last election by a large ma- 
jority. Mr. Welch is a vigilant and capable officer, 
with an established reputation for nerve. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 581 

WM. C. WESTLAKE was born May 15t!i, 
1865, in Chemung County, New York. He is a 
son of Daniel B. and Elizabeth Westlake. He was 
tnarried February 21, 1889, to Lizzie F. Hawley. 

Mr. Westlake's parents moved to Iowa, near 
Des Moines, when he was four years old, and his 
father engaged in the grain and lumber business. 
When Mr. Westlake was sixteen he started out 
for himself. Learning telegraphy, he worked for 
several years as telegrapher at Atlantic, la., fo:* 
the K. & L road, and moved in June, 1890, to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, going afterwards to Des Moines. He 
remained at Des Moines seven years, and went suc- 
cessively from there to Pueblo, Colo., Little Rock, 
Ark., Eldon, Iowa and Birmingham, Alabama. 
He came to Trenton in 1908 and is a dispatcher for 
the Rock Island. 

Mr. and Mrs. Westlake have three children; 
Ralph D., born January 14th, 1891 ; Eva L., July 
17th, 1892; Harry, Nov. 11th, 1893. Verva born 
December 1st, 1889, died at Pueblo, July 7th, 1902. 

E. M. WILSON, son of W. R. and May E. 
Wilson was born at Coshocton, Ohio, Aug. 25, 
1864. He was married March 5, 1898, to Bertie 
Norvel, of Green City. They have two children: 
Genevieve, born Sept. 28, 1900, and Clara Allalie, 
born July 10, 1907. Mr. Wilson's parents came 
to Sullivan County when he was three years old. 
He lived in that county until of age, and taught 
school there for nineteen years, having been prin- 
cipal of the school at Harris, Humphreys, and Green 
City, and principal of the high school at Milan. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 583 

His last school work was as superintendent of 
schools at Browning. Mr. Wilson v/as coiAnty 
S'^b.'ol commissioner for eight years prior to 1906. 
He resigned his position after being r.^- elected at 
I ii owning in order to accept a po>;;t'on with the 
Farmers Exchange Bank, of Browning. He helped 
organize the Jenkins Hay Rake and Stacker Fac- 
tory, and was elected president of the firm. The 
enterprise w'as moved to Chillicothe and that city 
then became the home of Mr. Wilson. He remained 
at the head of the concern until Oct. 1908 v.'hen he 
resigned and accepted the position of cashier of 
the Citizens Bank at Laredo and moved his family 
to that city. The bank has grown very rapidly 
under his management. It was organized in 1904, 




RKSIDENXE OF W. R. ROBBINS 



584 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



has ample funds and a splendid business. John B. 
Brooks is president and Dr. J. M. Stone, vice-pres- 
ident. 

L. V. WOODS is a son of Columbus and Vto- 
^\ena Woods. He was born in Grundy County, 
rear Laredo, Sept. 2, 1863. He took a course at 
Humphreys College, and one at Gem City Business 
College. He was married June 5th, 1889, to Miss 




L. V. WOODS 



Kate Cook, daughter of C. H. Cook. They have 
two children: Charles C, and Ruth, born Oct. ?2, 
1891. 

Mr. W^oods lived on a farm during boyhood. 
He then entered the hardware business at Laredo 
with C. L. Fielste and continued with him two 
years. Selling his interest he later engaged in the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 585 

liardware business himself a few years. He then 
sold out and for two years assisted his father-in- 
law, C. H. Cook, in running the mill at Trenton. 
In 1898 he moved to Laredo and accepted the po- 
sition of Cashier in the Commercial Bank in which 
lie was a stockholder and which he helped to or- 
ganize in 1890. The other officers are W. A. Merry- 
man, president, and M. G. Warren, vice-president. 
Mr. Woods helped to organize the town of Laredo 
and has been township trustee for the past ten 
years. He served for five years as master of the 
Masonic lodge at Laredo and has been through 
all the offices in the local Odd Fellow lodge. \ 

JAMES RICHMOND (JIM) WRIGHT, 
preacher and author, was born in Grundy County, 
Missouri, May 28th, 1870. His father Daniel 
Wright, was of Portugese and English descent and 
belonged to the family of Wrights who moved from 
Tennessee to Ohio and became identified with a 
Quaker colony early in 1800. His mother, Sarah 
A. (Bates) Wright, deceased, was of Irish des- 
cent and was related, on her mother's side, to the 
Morrisons of Ohio who were distinctly Swedish. 
The first twelve years of James R.'s life was spent 
on a farm near Hickory Creek, Grundy County, 
in what he has denominated in one of his books 
as "The Happy Land of Poosey." In 1882 he moved 
with his parents to Trenton where with the excep- 
tion of short intervals he has since resided. From 
the Trenton public schools he attended Grand River 
College. He also attended William Jewell College 
at Liberty, Mo., and later the Southern Baptist 



586 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky. He studied 
oratory under Prof. Fullerton at K. C. and under 
Prof. Haws at Louisville, Ky. He read law undjr 
Hugh C. Smith, now of St. Joseph, AIo., but nev^r 
took up its practice. 

His parents were extremely poor in this world's 
goods but rich in Christian character and he was 
early endowed with the foundation principles of . 
successful life. His school life is a tale of toil and 
tears. The path was rugged and the way was steep. 
Sweeping floors, 'building fires, tending "tow^n' 
cows and horses, sawing wood and such like work. 
He was materially aided in the later part of his 
school life by Dr. J. J. Aloore of Livingston County, 
and by others who took interest in his ambitions. 

His early ambitions were principally in me- 
chanical and steam engineering alternating, how- 
ever, with strong literary inclinations. At eighteen 
he was engineer of the Eagle Mills, since burned 
down at Trenton. He was then writing poetry and 
prose for local papers. In this year he took to 
strong drink and in a very short while became a 
vicious character among the noted "war chiefs" 
who then dwelt with the "swamp angels" on the 
Flat lake bottoms below Trenton. In his nineteenth 
year Wright professed conversion and united with 
the First Baptist church at Trenton. At twenty he 
entered the ministry of the Baptist church and has 
continued since, preaching to local churches 
throughout Grundy and adjoining CDumies, witJ' 
a two years' pastorate at Livingston, IMcnt. Alsr 
seving as district missionary and in other minis- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 587 

terial capacities for his denomination. He was 
married March 31st, 1895 to Minnie Olive Atwood 
of Sulhvan County. 

In 1903 he went to Chicago where h'.t per- 
fected and patented, at home and in foreign coun- 
tries, a motor engine. A company with a cipiial 
stock of $1,000,000 was incorporated for the pur- 
pose of promoting the invention. For some rea<=;on 
the methods of the company were not successfully 
applied and the enterprise, which created consider- 
able local interest at the time, was abandoned. 

He wrote and published "He Was From Mis- 
souri," a humorous problem novel. His latest book 
is one of comic essays entitled "Chewing The Rag.'" 
His book on the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, has 
been read in many a school room by teacher to pupil. 
His short stories and poems for newspaper and 
magazines are multiplying. His songs sacred and 
sentimental are fast gaining favor. 

E. L. YOUNG, son of A. D. and Sarah (Daly) 
Young, was born in Findley County, Ohio, April 2-\-, 
1863. He now lives three miles south of SpicLird 
on Route 1. He was married to Lizzie Arndt. They 
have four children, Elva Lee, Bonnie Marie, Date 
A., and Scott. 

Mr. Young was educated in the public sniools 
of Grundy County and after completing school, left 
home and worked on the Rock Island railroad. Af- 
terwards he traveled for two years in the Dakotas, 
then came back to Trenton. Later, he took a trip 
to the Pacific coast. He came back to Grundy 
County in 1895, after which he bought the 



588 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

farm he now owns consisting of 180 acres of fine 
land well improved. 

Mr Young is a Democrat and a member of 
the U. B. Church. 

W. W. YOUNG, son of A. D. and Sarah 
(Daly) Young, both natives of Ohio, was born 
Dec. 17, 1861 on a farm in Findley County, Ohio. 
ITe now lives on Route 1, three and a half miles 
south of Spickard. He was married March 11. 
1894, to Maggie McNabb, daughter of E. J. Mc- 
Nabb. They have one child, Sadie Myrle, born 
Nov. 25. 1895. After his marriage he moved to 
the farm on which he now lives. It consists of 
103 acres 

Mrs. Young died in a hospital in Kansas Citv, 
Feb 13, 1908. 

Mr. Young is a Democrat and a member of 
the Christian church. 

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Young began 
^o work for himself and about two years later he 
v.^ent to Trenton and procured a position in the ma- 
chine shops and stayed there two years. He then 
bought a livery business and he and Mr. Bailey 
Cornwell were in that business for about a year. 
He then traveled through the Dakotas, Minnesota 
and Nebraska coming back to Trenton in 1892 and 
working there until his marriage. 

O. S. ZEIGLER, son of William Zeigler, de- 
ceased and Mary J. Zeigler who lives with her son, 
was born in Grundy County July 8, 1879. He now 
lives on Route 2, Trenton. His father came to Mis- 



HISTORYOF GRUNDY COUNTY 589 

souri in 1860 from Hardin County, Ohio, and pur- 
chased the farm on which his son and widow now 
Hve. 

Mr. Zeigler was married Aug. 27, 1896 to An- 
nie Miller, daughter of J. A. Miller. They have two 
children. Cleatus Calvin was born Nov. 19, 1899; 
George M., March 28, 1902. Mrs. Zeigler is a 
native of Illinois, born Nov. 19, 1877. 

J\Ir. Zeigler was born on the farm where he 
now lives. He stayed at home until he was grown 
when he went to work for his father-in-law at the 
carpenter trade. Later he went to Arkansas where 
he worked for a time at his trade. Returning home 
he farmed for a few years, then he went to Sedalia 
and engaged in the insurance business for a short 
time, then to Michigan where he worked in a ce- 
ment factory. He then went to Blackfoot, Idaho, 
where he worked at his trade for awhile. From 
there he went to St. Joe and finally returned home 
to take charge of the farm, his father having died. 
The farm consists of 75 acres and is owned by him 
and his mother. 

L. BROWN was born in Clinton County, Ohio, 
June 9, 1850 He resides six miles southwest of 
Spickard on Route 4. His father was Moses Brown 
born Oct. 22, 1806, died Nov. 9, 1868. His mother 
was Ruth M. (McPherson) Brown, born June 18, 
1820, died Jan. 11, 1886. 

Mr. Brown was married to Susan Sweetman, 
Oct. 5, 1879. She was the daughter of Barney 
and Catharine (Brush) Sweetmen. She was bom 
Oct. 26, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have nine 



590 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



children. Raybourn was born Sept. 24, 1880; 
Blanche, March 31, 1882; Grover, Jan. 31, 1884; 
Stella, June 3, 1886; Charles, September 5, 1888; 
Lester, Feb. 22, 1891; Emma, Sept. 29, 1893; Chf- 
ford, July 5, 1896; and Blondy, Oct. 9, 1898. 

Mr. Brown came to Grundy County with his 
mother in 1873. his father then being dead. They 
bought a farm, the management of which was left 
to him. He bought the interest of his sisters in 
the place after their marriage. He sold the home 
place in 1901 and bought the farm where he now 
lives. He is a general stock raiser. 

COLEMAN BROOKS, a son of W. T. Brooks, 
was born near Trenton, Sept. 9, 1881, and lives on 




RESIDENCE OF COLEMAN BROOKS 



Route 3. He was married Oct. 19, 1904 to Cleo 
Campbell, a daughter of Herk Campbell. They hav 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 591 

two children: Leon Carter, born Oct. 6, 1905, and 
William Hercules, born Feb. 2, 1908. 

Mr. Brooks was born and reared on a faria 
and has followed that occupation almost continuous- 
ly. He remained with his parents until grown and 
then started to make his own way. In 1900 ne 
made a trip to California where he remained six 
months following railroading and ranching for a 
time being in the employ of J. T. James, who owns 
60,000 acres of land. Returning he went to farm- 
ing and later married. He lives on a farm just 
east of his father's place consisting of 160 acres, 
a part of the old home place. He also owns 40 
acres three fourths of a mile east of the home 
place. The farm is well improved and the home 
is one of the prettiest in the county. He does gen- 
eral farming and makes a specialty of handling 
thoroughbred sheep. 

W. T. BROOKS is a native of Grundy Coun- 
ty, a son of Tilman and Sarah Brooks, and was 
born two miles east of his present home March 9, 
1848. He lived there on the farm with his parents 
until he was twenty-eight years old when he mar- 
ried and started out for himself, farming. He fir^t 
bought a farm near the old home place where he 
lived a few years and then 1)ought what was then 
known as the Robinson farm on which he now lives. 
It then consisted of 160 acres and he has since 
bought 320 acres adjoining. He owns 80 acres 
near it, making 560 in all. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have made several trips 



592 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



to the west and recently spent the winter in CaH- 
fornia. The family is one of the oldest in the coun- 
ty. His father is still living at the age of eighty- 
nine. 

Mr. Brooks was married to Mary Dunlap,. 
Sept. 5, 1876. She died May 18, 1886. leav- 




RESIDENCE OF W. T. BROOKS 

ing two children, Wm. G., born Aug. 20, 1879; J. 
Coleman, Sept. 9, 1881. Oct. 6, 1891 he married 
Lida Bell. They have had two children; Ber- 
nice Cecile, born Jan. 30, 1896, and Carl, Jan. 23, 
1893 who died Sept. 30, 1894. 

JOHN W. BLACK was born in Montgomery 
County, Indiana, May 8, 1870. He was married 
Sept. 29, 1895 to Stella R. Fletcher. 

Mr. Black went with his parents from Virginia 
to Nebraska in 1877, and they remained there three 
years. Then, in 1881, they came to fiercer Conn- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



593 



ty, Missouri, where his father, Wm. H. Black, pur- 
chased an extensive tract of land. Mr. Black re- 
mained at home with parents and helped manage 
the farm until he was twenty-five years old, when 
he went to farming for himself, purchasing a farm 




JOHN W. BLACK 



near Princeton. Later he went into the livery busi- 
ness at Princeton, which he conducted for ten years. 
In the fall of 1908 he disposed of his livery busi- 
ness at Princeton and later bought a similar busi- 
ness in Trenton of George Lee. He at once moved 
to Trenton and has added extensively to his livery 
equipment. While in Princeton Mr. Black dealt 
very extensively in horses and mules and still hand- 
les a lar.iie number. He owns a farm in Mercer 
Countv, Missouri. 



594 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

WESLEY BROWN, a son of George W. and 
Harriet Brown, was born in Van Buren County, 
Iowa, Nov. 27, 1851. He was married Dec. 24, 
1874, to Sarah J. Winters, daughter of George and 
Margaret Winters. They have had three children ; 
Lula, born July 8, 1880 married Charles Gentry, 
of Spickard, Sept. 11, 1898; Bertie, Dec. 9, 1875, 
died Nov. 30, 1877; Grover C, Dec. 14, 1885, died 
July 4, 1899. 

Mr. Brown lived in Iowa when young, where 
he followed the hoop business. He came to Mis- 
souri in 1885, settling at Spickard, where he fol- 
lowed the same business for ten years. He then 
went into the mercantile business and for several 
years clerked for Wilson, Fisk & Wild. Later he 
went into business for himself and became a mem- 
ber of the firm of Brown Bros. & Keith, at Spickard, 
handling groceries and dry goods. They have a 
large store and a splendid trade. 

J. M. BALSLEY was born at Witt, Illinois, 
April 5, 1870. He lived on the farm with his par- 
ents until married and soon afterwards moved to 
Oklahoma, but stayed there only one year when they 
returned to 111. remaining until 1907 when they 
moved to Iowa where he farmed until the spring of 
1909 when they moved to Grundy County, having 
purchased the Reed farm five and one half miles 
southeast of Trenton on Route three. The farm is 
well improved and consists of 270 acres. Mr. Bal- 
sley has remodeled the home until it is one of the 
handsomest in the county. 

He was married Nov. 15, 1893 to Miss Lou 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



595 



Ada Carter at Waverly, 111. They have had six chil- 
dren, five of whom are living. Carter R. was born 
Aug. 12, 1894; Grace M., Dec. 2, 1896; Blanche M., 
Nov. 2, 1898, died March 6, 1899; Archie B., Sept. 
2, 1900; John A., March 8, 1903; and Goldie L., 
March 6, 1908. Mrs. Balsley was born at New 
Berlin, 111., March 30, 1875. 

Mr. Balsley is a member of the Odd Fellow, 
M. W. A. and Court of Honor lodges. Both he and 
Mrs. Balsley are members of the Christian church. 




RESIDENCE OF J. M. BALSLEY 



J. L. BEACH was born at Hudson, Michigan, 
May 3, 1861. He lives now on Route 6, Trenton, 
Mo. He married Hattie E. Ball of \\'est Point, 
Nebraska, Sept. 10, 1884. They have had five chil- 
dren, three of whom are living, the oldest boy and 
the youngest girl having died in infancy. Those 
living are Clyde J., born Nov. 12, 1893; and Mil- 



596 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

dred M., Oct. 17, 1891, both living at home; Clara 
M., born Nov. 27, 1886, now Mrs. J. O. Dickson^ 
of Herrick, South Dakota. 

When a boy Mr. Beach moved with his parents 
to Ogle County, Illinois, where he lived until the 
close of the war. His father died from an illness 
contracted during the war. The family then moved 
back to Hastings, Michigan, where they lived uncil 
Mr. Beach was eighteen, when he entered the mer- 
cantile business at Nashville, Mich., remaining here 
two years. He then went to Illinois for a year, then 
to Nebraska, where he farmed two years. He then 
went into the employ of the Chicago City railway, 
at Chicago, for one year, then, in 1883, of the North- 
western railway, located at Huron, in which service 
he remained until 1908. Mr. Beach began his rail- 
roading career at the bottom and worked his way 
to higher positions. He held the positions of brake- 
man, conductor, trainmaster and superintendent of 
constructon. While holding the latter position lie 
built the Boneshill & Dallas extension of the North- 
western in the Tripp County reservation in South 
Dakota. While there he invested heavily in land 
in that region. He gave up railroad work in the 
spring of 1908 and later sold his farm in the 
spring of 1909 and moved w^ith his family to a farm 
three and one half miles northeast of Trenton, 
where he now lives. It consists of 80 acres. Besides 
doing general farming he handles thorough-bred 
Poland China hogs. Lady Choice being at the head 
of his herd. 

He is a member of the O. R. C. and his wife 
is a member of the Baptist church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



59/ 



HERK C. CAMPBELL was born in Frank- 
lin County, Ohio, near the city of Columbus, May 
7, 1855. He is a son of Adam j. and Mary (Quinn) 
Campbell. He was married to Fannie S. Overton, 
daughter of John W. Overton, Dec. 25, 1879. They 
have eight children: Ethel Alma, born Sept. 23, 
1880, now Mrs. O. S. Gallatin; Mary A., April 20,' 
1883 died Dec. 27, 1886; Cleo A., March 12, 1885^ 
now Mrs. Coleman Brooks; Andrew W., Oct. 24, 
1888; Myrtle S., Oct. 13, 1891; Fannie A., Nov! 
10, 1894; Erma May, March 30, 1897; James H., 
Aug. 23, 1900. 

Mr. Campbell's father moved with his family 




RESIDENCE OF H. C. CAMPBELL 

from Ohio to Livingston County, Mo., in 1868 and 
after a few months came to Grundy County, lo- 
cating six miles south of Trenton. Here Mr. Camp- 
bell lived until he was married, when he moved to 
.a farm near Farmersville, on which he lived twelve 



598 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

years. He then moved to his present farm of seven 
hundred and forty-five acres. He also has an eighty 
in Jackson township. Mr. Campbell is a stock- 
holder in the Farmers Exchange Bank, the Co^l 
Company, the Grundy County Fair Association and 
a number of other enterprises in Trenton. He has 
served a number of years as president and as treas- 
urer of the combination cattle sale org-anization. 
Mr. Campbell was collector for Jackson township 
eight years, trustee four years, and was for a time 
president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Com- 
pany. At present he is overseer of his district and 
has done much for the good roads cause in this 
county. He attended the public schools and Tren- 
ton High School under Prof. Norton, and took a 
course in Grand River College. On quitting school 
he taught for six years, spending the summers on 
the farm. His present farm is located five miles 
southeast of Trenton. 

A. T. CORNWELL, one of Lincoln's town- 
ship's leading citizens, was born on the farm he now 
owns, two and a half miles nortlieast of Tindall, 
Nov. 26, 1862. He is a son of John P. and Martha 
(Linney) Cornwell. He has never married and his 
sister makes her home with him, owning a half in- 
terest in the farm on which they live. 

Mr. Cornwell taught school in Sullivan Coun- 
ty, two years, his first school being taught in Hum- 
phreys. All his life, however, he has given his 
chief attention to farming. Mr. Cornwell has been 
a stockholder in the Tindall bank since its organi- 
aztion in 1904 and has been its president since: 



: HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 599 

1906. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. and 
the A F. and A. M. lodges. In his early life he at- 
tended the pubHc schools of his section and later 
took a course at the Kirksville Normal. He be- 
longs to one of the oldest and best known families 
in North Missouri. His father was one of the 
early pioneers of Grundy County, coming here in 
1838. ,. ' I 

F. H. CRAM, son of Samuel and Eliza Cram, 
was born in Waukee, Wisconsin, Feb. 8, 1855. His 
parents were pioneers from Minnesota. They are 
both dead. He moved with his parents to Minne- 
sota when but two years old and lived there with 
them until he was twenty-two years of age. He 
then went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he re- 
mained five years, working for the Union Pacific 
railroad. In 1887 he came to Trenton and worked 
for the Rock Island for fifteen years. He went co 
farming and purchased his present farm in 1901. 
It is on Route 1, out of Trenton and consists of 
44 acres of splendid land. 

Mr. Cram married Eva Moore in 1881. She 
died Sept. 1, 1893 leaving one child, Harry H., born 
May 15, 1882. On Oct. 31, 1896 he married Frona 
A. Moore, formerly Mrs. St. John. She is a daugh- 
ter of Eli Moore. He and his wife are both liv- 
ing. 

J. W. DOUGLAS, son of Henry Douglas, 
who lives in Iowa, and Mary E. (Patterson) Doug- 
las, was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, June 
19, 1860. He now lives on Route 2, Dunlap. 

He was married Sept. 6, 1896, to Ellen Vance, 



600 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

daughter of Daniel Vance. They have two chil- 
dren. Emma May was born Sept. 1, 1897; Bessie 
D., Oct. 27, 1901. 

Mr. Douglas moved with his parents to Mis- 
souri in 1874 and settled in Sullivan County near 
Humphreys. He lived there for a few years and 
then moved near Lindley, later moving to his pre- 
sent place. He remained at home with his mother 
until his marriage when he went to farming for 
himself. He bought his present place about twenty 
years ago while he was still at home with his mother. 
They farmed together for several years and then 
divided the property. He has 100 acres in his home 
farm and 80 acres nearby. He handles thorough- 
bred horses and is the owner of Ben Hur a fine 
stallion and Prince Albert, a noted jack. 

Mr. Douglas is a member of the Methodist 
church. 

SAMUEL D. ELLIOTT is the son of Thomas 
H. Elliott, who was born in Pensylvania, May 28, 
1822 and died Sept. 5, 1906. His mother, Mar- 
garet (Harper) Elliott was born in Morgan Coun- 
ty, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1829. Mr. Elliott was born in 
Morgan County, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1862. He now lives 
six miles west of Spickard on Route 2. After com- 
pleting the common school course, Mr. Elliott at- 
tended Grand River College at Edinburg for two 
years, then took a course in the Kirksville State nor- 
mal. He is well known in Grundy County as a 
school teacher, having taught for fourteen terms. 

Mr, Elliott was married to Miss Hannah E. 
Willis, Aug. 27, 1890. She is the daughter of 



602 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Henry Willis who was born in England, March 
20, 1814 and died Nov. 28, 1898. Her mother, 
Kitturah A. (Wright) Willis, was born in Ohio, 
Aug. 31, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are the par- 
ents of five children: Hazel, born Aug. 7, 1891; 
Willis E., Feb. 14, 1893; Lee and Lynn, July 22, 
1897; Margaret, Dec. 8, 1903. Mrs. Elliott was 
born May 30, 1870 in Grundy County, educated in 
the common schools and in Grand River College. 

]\Jr. Elliott came with his parents to Grundy 
County when he was seven years old. During his 
career as a teacher he purchased a farm of 140 acres 
near Edinburg, sold it in 1895 and taught school 
for two years, then buying the farm just east of his 
home. Mr. Elliott has 220 acres of land well stock- 
ed and excellently improved. He is one of Grundy 
Countv's best citizens and highly respected by all. 

EDWARD R. EVANS was born in Madison 
County, New York, Sept. 17, 1846. He was mar- 
ried March 8, 1867, to Mary J. Harman. They 
have had seven children, three of whom are living. 

Mr. Evans spent his early life in New York, 
where he worked a number of years in a woolen 
mill. He came to Missouri when twenty years old 
and settled in Linn County, coming to Grundy in 
1871. In Linn County he worked in the shops, 
and on coming to Grundy he worked in the shops 
at Trenton, and was for seven years on the road. 
He was locomotive engineer running on the Wa- 
bash for five years. Returning to Trenton in 1884, 
he worked for the Rock Island one year, after whic^ 
he went to Colorado in the interests of the Trenton 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 603 

Mining Co. and the Rock Island. He had charge 
of the machinery in sinking the Sunny Side Coal 
Mine, helping to operate later and remaining there 
eight years. Returning to Trenton at the end oi 
that period he acted as janitor of the central school 
building until 1901 when he accepted the position 
as carrier on Route 2 out of Trenton and has held 
that position continuously since that time. 

He belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge and he and 
his wife are both devoted members of the Baptist 
church, he being for years a member of the Board 
of Trustees. 

ALVA W. FRENCH is a son of J. A. and 
Martha French. He was born near Gait, Grundy 
County, May 5th, 1886 and now lives on Route 3, 
Trenton, AIo. Mr. French was married Jan. 23, 
1909, to }.Iiss Nellie Lucas, daughter of G. \V. 
Lucas. Mr. Lucas now lives in South Missouri but 
was formerly employed at Cook's mill at Trenton. 

Mr. French was born and reared on a farm 
and spent most of his life at home with his parents. 
When grown he started to farming for himself. 
In the spring of 1909, soon after his marriage, Jie 
leased the Key farm of 80 acres, near the old home 
place and on which he now lives. 

T. F. FULKERSON, a son of Peter G. and 
Eliza (Carnes) Fulkerson, was born on the old 
Fulkerson homestead Sept. 30, 1870 and spent h;s 
early life there. He attended the public schools 
of that section and later took a course at De Pauw 
university. On quitting school he farmed for a 
short time and then came to Trenton where he 



604 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

shipped stock for a few years and then began trad- 
ing in land and became interested in various enter- 
prises, taking considerable interest in the Trenton 
Mining Company and the Trenton Electric Light 
Company, in which he owned a large amount of 
stock and was president of the company until it was 
sold in 1906. Since then he has devoted his at- 
tention to handling land. He owns a large amount 
of land and a number of pieces of city property, 
among them a half interest in the Harber hotel. 

He was married Feb. 18, 1909, to Miss May 
Louise Milbank, a member of a prominent family 
of Chillicothe, Mo. 

J. A. FRENCH was born near Buffalo, N . vv 
York, May 14, 1846. He moved w4th his parents 
to Michigan when he was six years old and liv^d 




RESIDENCE OF J. A- FRENCH 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 605 

there until grown, when he began farming for hin;i~ 
self. He remained in Michigan until 1877 when he 
came to Grundy County, buying a farm northea .t 
of Trenton where he lived until 1898. In 1898 
he bought his farm four miles southeast of Tren- 
ton on Route 3 and has lived there since. It con- 
sists of 140 acres, and he owns 50 acres just west 
of the home place. He handles high grade stock 
of all kinds, including Shorthorn cattle. 

In 1864 Mr. French joined Company C. First 
Michigan cavalry and served until the close of the 
war. 

He was married Feb. 10, 1878 to Martha R. 
Morris. They have four children. J. A. Jr., w .s 
born Aug. 25, 1880; Hattie J., Nov. 3, 1883 now 
Mrs. R. G. Baugher; Alva W., May 5, 1886; Edua 
E., Aug. 28, 1889 now Mrs. Z. L. Leeper. 

Mr. French is a member of the Masonic lodge 
and all are members of the Methodist church. 

B. F. FORD, a son of B. M. and Eleanor Ford, 
is a native of Grundy County and was born on a 
farm seven miles northeast of Trenton, Mar. 1, 1861 
He lived with his parents there until he was twenty- 
five years old. He then started farming for hiiu- 
self, buying a farm near the old home place on 
which he lived until 1905 when he bought his pre- 
sent farm one and one half miles east of Trenton. 
It consists of 110 acres in the home place and he 
also owns 80 acres near Dunlap. The farm has 
manv modern improvements, one being the elec- 
tric lights supplied by the plant at Trenton. Mr. 



606 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Ford does general farming and raises high grade 
stock. 

He married Mary M. LeHew, daughter of B. 
F. and Sarah C. LeHew, Sept. 16, 1883. They 
have two children, Lewis Edward, born June 29, 
1884 and Walter Dale, born Au^-. 19, 1888, Lewis 



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^ 


i 

i 


^«Tfl 






^^^hm^^^^^^^H^^^^^ 


^ 



RESIDENCE OK B. F. FORP 

Edward married Miss Myrtel Warner daughter of 
Rev. B. F. Warner April 19, 1907. He lives near 
his father helping to run the farm. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford's parents were among 
the early pioneers of the county. Mr. Ford's par- 
ents are still living. Mrs. Ford's father died man_v 
years ago, but her mother still lives on the old 
home place. 

Both are members of the Christian church. 

CHARLES GENTRY, son of John and Mary 
(Wood) Gentry, was born in Grundy County near 
Edinburg, Aug. 2, 1865. He lived there with his 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



607 



parents until he was twenty-four years old when 
he married and went to farming for himself. He 
then bought a farm near Shott, which consists of 
40 acres and which he still owns. He lived there 




RESIDKNCE OF CHARLES GENTRY 

eleven years and then bought the farm on whicn 
he now lives and which consists of 80 acres. He 
does general farming and raises high grade stock, 
making a specialty of cattle. 

Mr. Gentry was married to Mary E. Watts, 
Dec. 22, 1889. They had two children. Bash was 
born Nov. 13, 1890; Arch, Aug. 11, 1894. Mrs. 
Gentrvdied Aug. 11, 1894. 

He married Mrs. Anna Wilson May 4, 1896. 
They have two children. Carl was born Jan. 18, 
1897; John E., Aug. 20, 1902. Airs. Gentry was 
born in Linn County, March 4, 1866. 

Mrs. Gentry is a member of the Odd Fellow 
lodge and the Baptist church. 



608 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

JAMES GATES, son of Cyrus and Lydia. 
Gates, both of whom are dead, was born in Grun- 
dy County, Sept 12, 1865. He now hves on Route 
6, Trenton. 

He was married to Lydia Lunbeck, June 22, 
1884. She died June 28, 1890. They had three chil- 
dren. Cyrus was born Aug. 1, 1885, and lives at 
home; Pernie Wooddale March 2, 1887; and Ed- 
ward, Aug. 8, 1888, died Jan. 16, 1892. He was. 
married Jan. 10, 1898 to Mrs. Rachel Barnett, a sis- 
ter of his first wife. She was born in Henry Coun- 
ty, Iowa, March 10, 1859. Her parents came co- 
Grundy County from Iowa when she was seven, 
years old. When she was ten years old they went 
to south Missouri and she remained there until she 
was twenty-two. She was married to Samuel B. 
Barnett, who died March 31, 1882. They had one 
child, Mary A Barnett, born Aug. 7, 1881, who lives, 
in Trenton and is bookkeeper for Titcomb & Evans. 

Mr. Gates was born on the old home place two- 
and one half miles west of Tindall. His mother 
died when he was a few weeks old. His father re- 
married and he lived at home until his marriage, 
when he went to farming for himself. He farmed 
for his father for six years after his marriage.. 
His father bought 40 acres of the Steve PulliauT 
place and he moved there in 1887. His father died 
in 1888 and the land was left to him. Later he 
bou.f^ht 40 acres adjoining the John Jones farm and 
later 80 acres east of the home place, from W. S. 
Thompson. He has 12 acres northwest of his home- 
place, which makes 172 acres in all. 

Mr. Gates is a member of the Odd Eellow" 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



6"9 



lodge. Mrs. Gates is a member of the Presbyter- 
ian church. 

O. S. GALLATIN, a son of John and Clo L. 
Gallatin, was born in Grundy County, a mile and 
a half south of his present home, June 15, 188L 
He lives on Route 3, four and a half miles south- 
east of Trenton. Mr. Gallatin and Miss Ethel A. 
Campbell, daughter of Herk Campbell, were mar- 
ried Dec. 25, 1899. They have two children liv- 




RESIDENCE OF O. S. GALLATIN 

ing, Cleo Lenora, born May 3, 1901 ; Gerald, Feb. 
24, 1909. One died in infancy. 

Mr. Gallatin has always lived on a farm and 
began farming for himself when married. At pre- 
sent he lives on a farm belonging to his wife's 
father, consisting of 120 acres and adjoining Mr. 
Campbell's home place. 

Both are members of the Methodist church. 



610 HISTORY OF RUNDY COUNTY 

DR. H. E. HALL, son of Henry and Mary 
A. Hall, was born at Meridian, New York, May 
28, 1860. He was married to Nettie Anderson, of 
Meadville, July 28, 1884. They have two child- 
ren, Vitia N., born April 23, 1885, wife of Wm. 
H. Holsclaw, of Laredo, and Henry I., Dec. 6, 
1890, now with the U. S. Signal Corps, at Leaven- 
worth, Kans. 

Dr. Hall's parents came to Linn Comity in 
1868 and he lived in that county until fourteen 
years old. He taught school for ten years, and 
worked at watch making in Brookfield. He went 
to work at Davison's drug store, in Laredo, n 
1892 and stayed in the store five years. He thea 
entered the University Medical College at Kans.is 
City, where he graduated in 1900, and since th.-.t 
time has followed the practice of medicine in his 
old home town, Laredo. He makes a specialty of 
surgery. He has a splendid library as well as an 
up to date equipment and keeps thoroughly up with 
the progress of his profession. He takes an active 
interest in all public questions and is a member ,)f 
the Masonic lodge. 

G. P. HERRIOT, a son of Dr. J. E. Herriot, 
w^as born at Jerome, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1873. He moved 
with his parents to Trenton in 1893. He attended 
the public schools of Ohio and took a course at the 
State Normal. On coming to Trenton his father 
opened a drug store and Mr. Herriott clerked for 
his father for a time and later took a course in the 
Kansas City Pharmaceutical College. He then 
clerked in drug stores at Plattsburg, Mo., Mystic, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 611 

Iowa and elsewhere and in 1900 went to Novinger 
where he went into the drug business. In 1904 he 
was appointed post master at Novinger and sold 
out his drug store. He was reappointed postmas- 
ter in 1908, but a few months later gave up this 
position on account of ill health. He traveled for 
a few months and in the summer of 1909 went to 
Colorado where he and his wife are special agents 
in the postal department. 

He was married Sept. 30, 1903, to Josephine 
Cole, of Novinger. 

WM. D. KEITH is a son of Stephen and Mary 
(Scott) Keith. He was born in Franklin town- 
ship three miles east of where Spickard now is, 
Sept. 11, 1857. Mr. Keith and Miss Alice Goben, 
daughter of Preston Goben, were married Oct. 28, 
1875. They have had six children, four of whom 
are living. Tina P. was born Dec. 13, 1876; Lovie, 
Feb. 12, 1882, now Mrs. John Ballinger; Lena, 
Sept., 25, 1884; Glenn, March 12, 1889; Virgil, 
March 24, 1891, died Oct. 8, 1900. 

Mr. Keith lived on a farm until 1894 when he 
went into the mercantile business at Spickard and 
has continued there since. The firm is known as 
Brown Bros. & Keith, Wesley and Moses Brown 
being the other members of the firm. They started 
in business in a small way, running a grocery store 
at first. Later dry goods were added and they 
now have one of the largest stores in a town the 
size of Spickard in the state. 

T. C. MERRYMAN is a son of B. F. Merry- 
man who was born in Kentucky, April 19, 1834 



612 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

and died Sept. 14, 1893. His mother was Char- 
lotte (Kilburn) Merryman who was born Oct. 26^ 
1836. Mr. Merryman was born March 23, 1857 
in Grundy County, Wilson township. At present 
he lives three miles southeast of Laredo, Mo. He 
was married April 19, 1877 to Mary P. Belshe who 
was born April 20, 1859 and died May 8, 1897. 
He was afterwards married to Martha Matheny. 
Mr. Merryman has two children dead; Geetie M, 
born Feb. 4, 1880, died Oct. 12, 1902; Vernie V., 
Dec. 8, 1881, died June 20, 1890. Those living- 
are Ethel L., born Jan. 12, 1884; Robert F., April 
26, 1886; Snoda E., Sept. 9, 1888; Aubrey E., Sept. 
21, 1893. 

Mr. Merryman began farming at the age of 
twenty years on the farm which he now owns. It 
consists of 80 acres. 

He and his wife are members of the Baptist 
church. 

W. A. MERRYMAN, son of Anderson and 
Keziah (Kilburn) Merryman was born near what 
is now the city of Laredo, Feb. 12, 1866. He spent 
his early life on a farm and attended the public 
schools of that section, later taking a thorough 
course in a business college. At the age of twenty 
he left home and started out for himself, married 
and began farming. He purchased a farm near the 
old home place. Later he bought land adjoining 
and now owns 763 acres in one body, which is one 
of the best farms in the county and is situated four 
miles east of Laredo., For a number of years he 
dealt in pure-bred Hereford cattle, but sold out 




RESIDENCE OF W. A. MERRYMAN 




SCENE ON W. A. MERRYMAN'S FARM 



614 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



that business in 1907. In 1890 he was elected presi- 
dent of the Commercial Bank of Laredo, an insti- 
tution which he was chiefly instrumental in or- 
ganizing and in which he is a principal stockholder. 




W. A. MERRYMAN 



The bank has ample capital, the confidence of the 
people and a splendid growing business. He also 
owns town property and is interested in numerous 
enterprises. 

Mr. Merryman was married Aug. 11, 1886 to 
Miss Mary F. Woods, daughter of C. C. Wood-.. 
They have no children living. He is a member >f 
the Masonic, Odd Fellow and Eagle lodges. 

D. M. MINTER, a son of Wm. Minter, a Mer- 
cer County pioneer, was born in Mercer County, 
Missouri, Nov. 6, 1849. He was married to Miss 
Ada McDonald, daughter of Jacob McDonald, Jan. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



615 



6, 1873. They have two children Hving and five 
dead; Oma, born Nov. 13, 1876, died Jan. 27, 1891 ; 
Stella, Oct. 13, 1880, died May 1, 1889; the others 
died in infancy. Of the two living Alta was born 
May 3, 1889, and Ralph, March 9, 1893. Both live 
at home. ''^ ^ll] ^ J 

Mr. M inter has an eight hundred and twenty 
acre farm northeast of Spickard in Mercer Coun- 




D. M. MINTER 



ty, to which he has in the past given his chief at- 
tention. He moved to Spickard in 1907 where he 
has since made his home and still manages his 
farm. He gives much attention to cattle raising 
and has one of the best Short Horn herds in North 
Missouri, at the head being the celebrated Rose of 
Sharon. He is interested in various btisiness enter- 
prises and helped to organize the Farmers and 



616 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Merchants Bank at Spickard in which institution 
he is a stockholder and director. 

ADDISON DAVID MONTGOMERY, son 
of Thomas and Matilda Montgomery, was born 
Sept. 5, 1872 on a farm near Jamesport, Daviess 
County, Missouri. When he was seven years of 
age he moved with his parents to Trenton, Mo., 
w^here he has since lived. He received his educa- 
tion in the Trenton public schools. His occupation 
is house painting and paper hanging. In politics 
he is a Prohibitionist. 

FRANK D. MURPHY, son of David and 
Susan Murphy, was born in Henry County, Iowa, 
July 30, 1863. He lives on Route 1, Trenton, Mo. 
He was married Feb. 4, 1883 to Bettie A. Froman, 
daughter of Thomas Froman. She was born Oct. 
1, 1862 in Daviess County, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. 
Murphy have five children: Claude was born July 
29, 1885; Nannie, Aug. 3, 1889, married Estes Col- 
ley; Roy F., Jan. 25, 1898; Minta B., Aug. 23, 
1899; Walter J., Dec. 21, 1903. 

Mr. Murphy's father, David Murphy, was 
born March 22, 1882, in Mansfield, Richland Coun- 
ty, Ohio. His mother, Susan Murphy, was born 
March 14, 1834 in West Liberty, Ohio County, 
West Virginia. 

Mr. Murphy's parents came with him to 
Grundy County in 1869, and settled on the place 
now owned by J. D. Speck, four miles north of 
Trenton. He lived there with his parents until 
grown and married, then went to farming for him- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



617 



self, a mile and a half east of Tindall. He stayed 
here five years, then rented the home farm, stayed 
there five years, then moved back to the former 
place, after which he bought the Wise farm two 
and a fourth miles east of Tindall. He bought 
other land adjoining, and now owns a fine farm of 
a hundred and fifty one acres. He makes a specialty 
of dairy farming. 

Mr. Murphy is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
lodge No. 669 at Tindall, Mo. 

JOHN G. OVERTON, son of John and Amy 
Overton was born in Hancock County, Illinois, June 










RESIDENCE OF J. G. OVERTON 



27, 1850. He now lives on Route 3, Trenton, Mo. 
He was married Jan. 10, 1871, to Julia F. Spence, 
daughter of William Spence. His wife died June 



618 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

17, 1890. A few years later he married Miss Leona 
Ishmael, daughter of Aaron Ishmael. 

Mr. Overton moved to Missouri with his par- 
ents when a bal^y and they settled in Grundy Coun- 
ty one mile north of his present home. He lived 
there until grown, when he went west and south 
to see the country, moving to his present farm in 
1871, immediately after his marriage. The origi- 
nal farm comprised 840 acres, but he has given 
each of his grown children a farm and he now has 
320 acres in the home place and has one of the hand- 
somest homes in the county. Mr. Overton has a 
fine herd of Shorthorn cattle, with Golden Ring, 
out of Lord Lovell, at the head. He also handles 
high grade hogs, horses and sheep. 

Mr. Overton had six children by his first wife: 
Dora A. M., born June 4, 1872, now Mrs. Geo. 
Daugherty of Okla. ; Laura G., Sept. 15, 1874, died 
March 11, 1875; Ira W. W., Nov. 22, 1876; John, 
Oct. 22, 1879; James A., May 31, 1882; Louis E., 
April 1, 1887. Air. Overton had four children by 
his second wife: Vaughn G. was born June 8, 1901 ; 
Leonard B., Oct. 9, 1903; Kenneth H., Nov. 19, 
1905. One child died in infancy. 

J. H. ROBERTSON, the son of Wm. H. and 
Louisa F. (Williams) Robertson, was born at 
Trenton, Mo., May 1, 1858. He was married to 
Rettie E. Owens, Dec. 19, 1878. They have five 
children living and one dead. Albert F. was born 
May 10, 1880, now at Kansas City; Ernest J., 
April 2, 1883 now in contracting business with 
his father; Emma E., Dec. 12, 1888; Bessie M., 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 619 

Aug. 12, 1894; John R., Jan. 24, 1898; Grace Pearl, 
Aug. 1, 1886, died Sept. 30, 1887. 

Mr. Robertson lived in Trenton when small, 
moving with his parents to a farm near what is 
now Laredo in 1864. He lived there on the farm 
until 1878, when he was married, and went to 
Trenton in Jan. 1880. He was three years with 
the Grundy County Coal Company. 1884 he went 
to Eldorado Springs, staying there until 1887. 
He then moved to Laredo and has since been en- 
gaged in the lumber and contracting business at 
that place. He has a big shop and the firm is 
known as J. G. Robertson & Son. He has been in 
the contracting business there for twenty-two years 
and has erected many fine structures. 

E. J. Robertson, the junior member of the 
firm was married June 4, 1905, to Lynda A. Dob- 
bins. They have one child, John M., born Oct. 
18, 1906. 

LEWIS FIELD WILLIAMSON, the second 
son of Rev. J. L. D. and Sarah L. (Temple) Will- 
iamson was born in Wapaloo County, Iowa, June 
27, 1856. His father was a Baptist missionary 
and lived on the frontier. In 1865, the family 
came to Missouri and in '69 they moved to south- 
eastern Kansas. Mr. Williamson returned to 
Missouri in 1879 and came to Grundy County in 
Sept 1894. April 13, 1880, he was married to 
Thirza E. Elliott, (youngest daughter of James H. 
and Angelina (Arnold) Elliott of Schuyler Coun- 
ty, Mo.). To them were born five children; Etta, 



HISTORY OF RUNDY COUNTY 621 

Willard, Cecil, Mabel, and Downey E, who died 
Jan. 29, 1906. 

Mr. Williamson was a railroader for nineteen 
years, but the past five years has lived on a farm, 
purchasing his present home in east Marion town- 
ship, three years ago. 

J. A. WILLIS is a son of James H. and Hila 
M. (Johnson) Willis. His father was born May 
I, 1828, his mother May 11, 1827. Both his par- 
ents are dead. He was born in Green County, 
Tennessee, Nov. 23, 1850. He now lives three 
and one half miles northwest of Gait. Mr. Willis 
was married May 13, 1868 to Melody Johnson, 
They have ten children. James W., was born 
March 11, 1869 ^^^ died March 13 of that year; 
Minerva, born April 13, 1870; Elizabeth, Oct. 15, 
1872, died Jan. 13, 1879; Hila M., Dec. 21, 1874; 
Rachel A., Sept. 26, 1877, died Feb. 5, 1885; Chas. 
W., Feb. 15, 1889, died June 24 of that year; Ira 
L., April 6, 1881, died Feb. 19, 1893; Linna L., 
Feb. 6, 1884; Joseph E., Aug. 24, 1889; Lelia M., 
Sept. 13, 1894. 

Mrs. Willis is the daughter of Joseph S. and Ma- 
ry Johnson. Mr. Willis is a Methodist minister 
and has preached for many years in the vicinity ot 
Gait and other parts of this county and in adjoin- 
ing counties. He began preaching in his eight - 
teenth year. He has a farm of 400 acres north of 
Gait, a handsome residence property in Trenton, 
and a 320 acre farm near Kingfisher. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 623 

E. C. WILSON, son of Sarah (Wisdom) and 
J. C. Wilson, both of whom are dead, was born in 
Grundy County, Harrison township, Jan. 24, 1871. 
He now Hves on Route 7, Trenton, Mo. He was 
educated in the pubHc schools. 
• Mr. Wilson was born and raised on the farm and 
lived with his parents until grown. His parents 
both died in the spring of 1908, within five months 
of each other. For the past five years, they had 
made their home with him. Mr. Wilson went 
west in 1897 and remained four years , in Colo- 
rado and Arizona, in a copper smelter in Arizona 
and in the ranching business in Colorado. He 
lives on a farm of eighty acres, seven miles north 
west of town. It belonged to his father up to the 
time of his death and Mr. Wilson then bought the 
interest of the other heirs. Mr. Wilson's father 
was born in Tazewell County Va., April 12, 1831, 
and came to Missouri in 1840, settling in Linn 
County. He came to Grundy County two years 
later. His mother was born in Randolph County 
in 1838 on August 9. His father died March 28, 
1908 and his mother died April 3, 1908. They 
had eight children, five of whom are living. 

DR. J. B. WRIGHT, son of Albert and Eliza- 
beth Wright, was born at Xenia, Ohio, August i, 
i860. He attended college at Lynchburg, Ohio, 
before beginning his medical studies. He was mar- 
ried October 30, 1888, to Eva M. Fox. 

Dr. Wright came with his parents to Grundy 
County in 1877. He taught school for four years, 
and read medicine with Dr. May, of Princeton. He 



624 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



then entered the Missouri Medical College at St. 
Louis, graduating in 1883, and began the practice 
of his profession at Spickard. He remained in 
Spickard until 1898, when, after taking post gradu- 
ate work in the Post Graduate Medical College, of 
New York, he located at Trenton, where he has since 
been. Dr. Wright is a member of the American, 




A. M. WHITE 



state and county medical societies. He has an ex- 
cellent equipment and instruments, and conducts a 
hospital in addition to his general practice. He is 
ctlso a member of the pension board, and has 
specialized on the eye, ear, nose and throat. 

Dr. Wright is a Mason of very high rank, an 
Odd Fellow and a K. of P. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 625 

T. J. ADAMS, son of David and Sarah Adams, 
was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, January 5, 
1 85 1. He now Hves on route three, Trenton. Mr. 
Adams and Georgia A. Smith were married Febru- 
ary 13, 1872. They have one adopted son, Kenneth 
Walker, whom they took to raise and educate when 
he was five years old, and who is now twelve. 

Mr. Adams' parents went to Iowa when he 
was one year old, and lived there until 1S66. when 
they came to Missouri. They lived first in Livings- 
ton County, near Farmersville, then moved to Mr. 
Adams' present home. Upon the 4eath of hi= 
mother, in 1901, Mr. Adams bought the interest of 
the other heirs in the place. The farm is located 
nine miles southwest from Trenton. Mr. Adams is 
a breeder of pure bred Poland China hogs. Both 
he and Mrs. Adams are members of the Christian 
church. 

DR. W. R. ADAMS is a son of George W. and 
Elizabeth Adams. His father, who was for sixteen 
years county clerk of Linn County, now lives at 
Meadville. Mr. Adams was born at Linneus, Mo., 
September 12, 1881. He took an academic course 
in the Missouri state university, and graduated in 
medicine in the University Medical college, in 1904, 
after which he served one year as assistant sur- 
geon in the Kansas City general hospital. 

Dr. Adams located in Laredo, for the practice 
of his profession, in 1905. He does a general prac- 
tice of medicine and surgery, giving special atten- 
tion to the latter. He is examining physician for 
twelve life insurance companies. 



6:^6 •! " HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Dr. Adams was married to Edna Petty, daugh- 
ter of Judge E. Cx. Petty, of Linneus, Oct. 4, 1905. 
He and Mrs. Adams are members of the Methodist 
church, and he is a member of the Masonic lodge. 

J. E. AKERS was born July 27, 1879, ^^^ ^^^^ 
farm on which he now hves with his mother. His 
father, James Akers, w^as born in Butler county, 
Ohio, January zy, 1832. He came to Missouri in 
1855, settling eight miles southeast of Trenton, 
where he lived several years, then moved to the 
farm on which his son and widow now lives, in 
1870. He died August 10, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. 
Akers are the parents of eight children. Mrs. 
Akers' maiden name was Eliza Coakley. She was 
born June 8th, i860. 

J. E. Akers has lived on the home place, cared 
for his mother and helped to run the farm since his 
father's death. He is not married. The farm con- 
sists of eighty acres and is located five miles east 
of Trenton. 

DR. EVEREl^r ALLEN, son of W. W. and 
Martha Allen, was born near Chillicothe, Mo., Oct. 
I, 1868. He is a graduate of the Galena, Kas., high 
school. Dr. Allen was married to Mary C. Varney, 
of near Chula, March 6, 1889. He graduated at the 
University Medical College in 1889. He was for 
some time located in Hickory, coming to Trenton 
in 1908. He has done post graduate work and 
has taken a special course in hospital work. 

Dr. and Mrs. Allen have two children, Wm. W. 
born March 12, 1894 and Fred, born March 6, 1896. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY .627 

Bertha, l)orn Feb. 13, 1890, died in August, 1893. 
Lucy, born Nov. 7. 1891, died Sept. 22, 1893. 

Mrs. Alien is a daughter of James Turner, one 
of the founders of (irand River College, and a pio- 
neer Baptist minister. 

S. W. ANDERSON is the son of Wm. An- 
derson, born in Tennessee, July i, 1814, and Nancy 
Jane ( Lyda ) Anderson, born in Tennessee. He 
was born in \\'ilson township, June 18, 1855. He 
now resides four and one half miles southeast of 
Laredo. 

He was married Oct. 14, 1874, to Rebecca El- 
eanor Todd, daughter of Jasper Todd, born in 
Missouri, June 15, 181 7, and died Sept. 25, 1873, 
and Martha J. (Stephens) Todd, born in Ken- 
tucky, June 12, 181 5, died Jan. 24, 1908. Mrs. 
Anderson was born June 8, 1855. They have 
three children: China Minerva, born Aug. 21, 
1875, married J. W. Warren, Jan. i, 1894, and 
died May 3, 1901 ; Paul F., born Aug. 11, 1881; 
and Samuel Jasper, born Feb. 10, 1884. 

The subject of this sketch began his life's re- 
sponsibilities at the age of eighteen. He has 
lived at home with his father all the time. His 
father deeded him the home farm of 366 acres of 
the best land in that part of the county. He deals 
quite extensively in cattle, both feeding and breed- 
ing the Short Horn. He is a progressive citi- 
zen and is always ready to help any good enter- 
prise along in the county. He is also a composer 



628 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



of music. He is a member of the Baptist church 
and a Democrat. 




DR. J A. ASHER. 

DR. J. A. ASHER, of Trenton, son of Solomon 
and EHzabeth Ellen (Birch) Asher, was born in 
Ohio, February 7, 1854. His father came with his 
family to this county in 1869, ^^'^^ settled on the 
Asher farm near Dunlap. Dr. Asher's early life 
was spent on the farm. After completing the dis- 
trict school course, he attended Grand River college, 
Edinburg. 

In the winter of 1875 ^^^ 1876, he taught 
school at what was then known as the Winters 
district, where now stands the town of Gait. Aug- 
ust 6th, 1876, he took up the study of medicine 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 629 

under Dr. Thomas Kimlin, and for many years 
clerked in Dr. Kimlin's drug store. He attended 
the medical department of the university of Mich- 
igan, and graduated at the University medical col- 
lege of New York in the spring of 1881. 

Dr. Asher was appointed a member of the 
board of examining surgeons for the pension de- 
partment at Trenton in 1888, and has served con- 
tinuously in that capacity except for the four years 
of Cleveland's administration. 

For years Dr. Asher has been one of the lead- 
ing physicians of the county, and has held many 
positions of trust. He is the present coroner of the 
county and was by virtue of this office sheriff of the 
county from the time of the death of Sherifif Estes 
in 1908, until his successor was appointed. 

Dr. Asher has been a director in the Citizen's 
State Bank since its organization. He owns a good 
farm and takes much interest in fine stock, espec- 
ially the breeding of good horses, to which industry 
he has probably contributed more than any other 
man in Grundy county. 

Dr. Asher was married to Sallie M. Graham, 
daughter of D. George and Martha Graham, Jan- 
uary 18, 1888. Th^y have two children: Vera, 
born December 4. 1892 r.nd Arthur Graham, born 
July 26, 1895. 

Dr. Asher is republican in politics. 

OSCAR AUSTIN, son of Thomas and Martha 
J. Austin, was born on the farm where he now lives, 
near Spickard, December 15, 1865. He and Miss 
Lissa Schooler, daughter of Job Schooler, were 



^30 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

married January 17, 188S. They have one child, 
Nora L., born October 16, iSgo. 

]\lr. Austin's father died when he was small, 
and he was compelled to work to help support the 
family. He went to farming for himself when 
eighteen years old, and later married. He after- 
w^ards bought a hundred and forty acres of the home 
place, and has a good home and a well improved 
farm. Mr. Austin handles Shorthorn cattle, and 
fine horses and hogs. He is a member of the K. of 
P. lodge. 

GEORGE E. BAIRD is a son of Miles B. and 
Mary A. (Herrington) Baird. He was born in 
Shelby county, Mo., January 8, 1842. He was mar- 
ried to Rachel ^lagdaline Haley, daughter of Silas 
Haley, one of our strongest pioneer characters, Feb. 
22,1880. They have three children : Mary Susan, 
wife of H. M. Merryman, born Dec. 8th, 1880 ,' 
Elizabeth Eaton, Oct. 9, 1883 ; and Sarah Ellen, Dec. 
19, 1885. Mrs. Baird was born July 21,, i860. 

Mr. Baird's parents moved from Shelby ville 
to Nineveh, Adair county, going in a few years from 
there to Putnam, where Mr. Baird, Sr., 
entered land. They went from Putnam to Sullivan 
county, where the family lived until Air. Baird was 
grown. He went with his parents to Oregon in 
1863, ^i"!*^! remained in Union, Oregon, thirteen 
years in the cattle business. In 1876 he went from 
Oregon to Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas, where 
he stayed five years, then came to Grundy county 
and in 1882 bought a six hundred acre farm of' 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 631 

James Austin. He afterwards lioiight other farms 
in Grundy county, making fifteen hundred acres in 
all, and considerable real estate in Trenton and 
other property. 

]\lr. Baird and family live on Trenton avenue, 
Trenton, Mo. He is a deacon in the Christian 
church of Trenton, of which Mrs. Baird is also a 
member. 

W. C. BELL, son of Wm. and Nancy Bell, was 
born at Westerville, Ohio, February 20, 1858. He 
now lives on route one, Trenton. Mr. Bell was edu- 
cated in the pu1)lic schools and Otterburn University 
W'hich was located in his home town. He was mar- 
ried March 4, 1884, to Miss Emma Guiles, daughter 
of A. J. Guiles, of Boonville, la. They have two 
children; Samuel Earle, born April 29, 1885, a 
machinist at Ossawatomie, Kans. ; and Devona B., 
born February 26, 1894. 

When he had completed his schooling Mr. Bell 
began railroading in the employ of the Illinois Cen- 
tral, first at Columbus, Ohio, then at Amboy, 111. 
He came to Trenton in 1883, and went to work for 
the Rock Island as conductor. He remained with 
the road until 1905, when he moved to the Gardner 
farm of a hundred and sixty acres, three miles north 
of Trenton, which he had bought in the meantime. 
In 1906 he went to Des Moines, where he was in 
the wholesale hay business until 1908, when he re- 
turned to his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bell and their 
daughter are members of the Christian church. He 
belongs to the Order of Railway Conductors. 



632 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

H. G. BELSHE was born in Wilson town- 
ship, Grundy County, Dec. 25, 1843. ^le now 
lives two and one half miles southwest of Laredo. 
His father was Richard Belshe, born in Virginia, 
in 1801, and died in 1885. His mother was Nan- 
cy (McMillen) Belshe, born in Tenn., in 1805, 
and died in 1886. 

Mr. Belshe was married Jan. 25, 1866, to Clem 
entine Kilburn, born Nov. 14, 1848. They have 
four children; Sarah N., born Jan. 2, 1867, died 
Nov. 4, 1885; Lizzie E., born April 6, 1873, died 
Sept. 13, 1874; Amelia M., born Dec. 22, 1876, 
married Charles Tracy Jan. i, 1900, and James 
Richard, born Aug. 7, 1879. Mr. Belshe was 
born in Grundy County when it was truly a wild 
country. He has until recently owned the place 
which his father first settled on but at present it 
belongs to his son. 

He is a Democrat in politics and belongs to the 
Baptist church. 

Mr. Belshe is one of Grundy's largest land own- 
ers. After having given each of his children a 
farm, he has 468 acres left. Mr. Belshe is the 
first male child born in this county since it was sep- 
arated from Livingston. He has traveled ex- 
tensively in the West, East and South, returning 
here in 1869. He helped to freight goods with ox 
teams from Brunswick to what few towns there 
were here. Mrs. Belshe is also from one of the 
pioneer families and was born on the place where 
she and Mr. Belshe now live. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 633 

EDWARD BICKEL, son of W. H. and 

Sarah J. Bickel, was born in Grundy County, sev- 
en miles east of Trenton, June i6, 1870. He was 
married October 3, 1894, to Miss Lillie B. Combs, 
daughter of John B. Combs. She w^as born in 
Grundy County, April 7, 1870. 

After his marriage Mr. Bickel bought his pres- 
ent place, which he ran for two years before h'^ 

marriage, while living with his parents. The 
farm is three miles east of Trenton, and consist'^ 
of a hundred and sixty acres of well improved 

land. They have a very pretty home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beckel have four children ; Bernice 
S., born Feb. 27, 1899; John W., Jan. 23, 1902: 

Lela E., April 2;i^, 1904 and Henry B., March 12, 
1906. 

A. J. BLANCHARD is a son of Lemuel and 
Maria Blanchard, both of whom are dead. He 
was born in Adams County, Illinois, Feb. 5, 1858. 
He was educated in the public schools. Mr. 
Blanchard lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. 

He was married in 1880 to Lizzie Craighead^ 
who was a native of Adams County. She was 
born in 1861. About two years after their mar- 
riage, Mrs. Blanchard died, leaving one son, Rob- 
ert Lee, born May 19, 1881, died March 18, 1900. 

Mr. Blanchard came to Missouri with his fath- 
er when small and settled in Knox County, living 
there until grown. His mother died just before 
they left Illinois. When he married, he went to 
farming for himself in Knox County and lived 



634 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

there until the death of his wife, when he came to 
Grundy County. He has hved here ahnost con- 
tinuously except nineteen months in Texas. He 
now lives on the Sid Renfro farm, four miles 
northwest of Trenton. The farm consists of 
540 acres. 

ISAAC BLATTNER was born in Northum^ 
berland County Pennsylvania, August 19, 1843. ^^ 
now lives on route six Trenton, Mo. He was mar- 
ried January 16, 1866 to Miss Louisa Alberts. They 
have five children: W. H., born Dec. i, 1868, liv- 
ing at home with his father; Frank D., born Nov. 
22, 1870, w'ho farms near Laredo, Mo. ; Mary Leota 
born Oct. 30, 1873, at home; Susan Jane, born May 
26, 1875, "o^v ^Irs. W. G. Harris; Alice Louella, 
born Jan. 17, 1877, now at home. 

Mr. Blattner left Pennsylvania when three years 
old and went with his parents to Iowa remaining 
there until 1873. Both parents died while living 
in Iowa. Mr. Blattner went to farming for him- 
self when he w^as married. He moved to Grundy 
County in 1873 and bought his present farm which 
consists of one hundred and five acres. He joined 
the 24th, Iowa Volunteer Infantry in 1862 and 
served three years and one month. He was at the 
seige of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, Mississippi, 
with Banks in the Red river campaign, at Harpers 
Ferry and with Sheridan in his later campaigns, 
leaving the service wnth the rank of corporal. 

He is a member of the \J. B. church. His son, 
W. H., who helps manage the farm, has twenty 
acres of- his own land: He was married to Sophia 



636 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Jenson December 15, 1896. She was born in Le- 
banon County, Pa. 

They have four children; Hazel L., born Sept. 
18, 1897; Franklin, Oct. 28, 1899; Roland, January 
25, 1902; Grace E., September 27, 1907. 

A. R. BONDURANT was born Dec. 24, 
1867 at Wintersville, Sullivan County, Missouri. 
He moved to Grundy County in 1882, and lived 
on a farm until 1896. He attended the country 
school from two to four months in the year until 
1888, when he took a course in the Gem City Busi- 
ness College. In 1891, he attended the Grundy 
County Institute and began teaching at the old 
Berry school house. He taught seven terms in 
the country and was then elected Principal of the 
Fourth Ward at Trenton, which position he held 
for seven and a half terms, when he resigned. He 
and W. R. Berry then bought a stock of hardware 
at Belton, Cass County, Mo. They remained 
there less than a year when they sold out and Mr. 
Bondurant returned to Gait and in Feb. 1902, with 
a silent partner, bought out Cooper Brothers and 
conducted the business until Oct. 1904, when he 
organized the Farmer's Hardware Company, of 
which he was the manager. In March 1908, he 
resigned and moved to Elk City, Okla., where he 
had an excellent position w^ith a hardware com- 
pany. In June 1909, he returned to Gan so that 
his wife could be with her mother who was in ex- 
tremely poor health, and accepted his old position 
as Manager of the Farmer's Hardware Company. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 637 

Mr. Bondurant is a member of the Baptist 
church and has been superintendent of the Sun- 
day School for many years. He is also a mem- 
ber of the I. O. (3- F. and takes an active part in 
the work of that order. He was mayor of Gait 
for one term, and gave the city a firm, moral, and 
business-like administration. 

FRANK L. BOSLEY, son of J. M., and Flor- 
ence (Reynolds) Bosley, was born in old Middle- 
bury, Grundy County, October 22, 1859. He was 
married November 20, i8<S8 to Miss May Booher, 
daughter of John Booher, an old pioneer. Mr. Bos- 
ley moved with his parents to Trenton when a boy, 
and they lived for several years where the Owl 
pharmacy now stands. They moved to Chariton 
County in 1869, returning to Trenton in 1872. His 
father died two months after their return. Mr. Bos- 
ley worked in stores for several years, for Lafferty 
& Winters, for John Shanklin, and others. He 
then began work as a plasterer, which he has con- 
tinuously followed for nineteen years. He worked 
in the cement business also at Gallatin and Prince- 
ton, and one summer in Leavenworth for the Na- 
tional Government. Mr. Bosley lives in Trenton. 
His grandfather helped to name the city, which 
was named for Trenton, New Jersey. /.He is a Ma- 
son and a member of the Christian church. 

J. N. BRASSFIELD, son of Riley and Rachel 
Brassfield, was born in Livingston County, June 25, 
1852. He was married to Miss Clara E. Miller, 
daughter of J. W. Miller, February 12, 1879. Mrs. 



633 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Brassfield was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 
August, 1857, and came with her parents to Mis- 
souri when ten years old. Her mother was Mary 
Elizalieth Miller. The name of his farm is Walnut 
View. 

Mr. Brassfield lived with his parents on a farm 
near Chillicothe until he was twenty-seven years 
old, when he went to .farming for himself. He 
bought a 192 acre farm south of Hickory, just 
across the Livingston county line and also bought 
the home place of 120 acres. He sold the home 
place, bought the Steve Perry place near Trenton, 
sold that and the farm near Hickory and bought his 
present 160 acre farm a mile and a half northeast 
of the corporate limits of Trenton, in 1906. He 
raises short horn cattle and Poland China hogs. 

Mr. Brassfield and family are members of the 
Baptist church. He is Republican in politics. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brassfield have five children 
living and two dead : Frank R.. born Sept. 9, 1882 ; 
H. Vencil, born Jan. 5, 1885; Lena M., Sept. 16, 
1887; Grace T., Oct. 1890; John A., Sept. 16, 1894; 
Eddie E., born Nov. 22, 1879, died July 10, 1882. 
Another child died in infancy. Both Frank and 
Vencil are salesmen in the employ of the Coleman 
Gas Light Co., of Wichita, Kansas. 

A. M. BRIDGES, a son of John C. and Cather- 
ine Bridges, was born in Linn County, Missouri, 
Nov. 15, 1869. H^ "ow lives on route three, Tren- 
ton, Mo. Mr. Bridges was married December 2, 
1896, to Mary V. Kelly, daughter of Thomas Kelly, 
of Linn County. They have three children ; Hubert 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



oir) 




RESIDENCE OF A. M. BRIOCHES. 

C, born Octo1:er 21, 1897; Buford R., born Dec. 
18, 1898; and Orril M., January 26, 1901. 

Mr. Bridges came with his parents to Grundy 
County when nine years old. They then returned to 
Linn County and remained six years. Returning to 
Grundy, he bought what is known as the Kelly 
farm, of two hundred acres, six miles southwest of 
Trenton. Mr. Bridges raises good stock of all 
kinds. Mrs. Bridges is a member of the Christian 
church. 



T. S. BROWER, son of R. C. and Jane Brow- 
er, was born in Mercer County, July 6, 1873. He 
now lives at Brimson. He was educated in the 
district schools and Stanberry normal. 



640 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Fie was married Dec. 26, 1896 to Cora E 
Young, daughter of W. H. Young of Harrison 
township. They have had four children; Sylvia, 
nine years old, Velma, seven years old, Ruby, five 
years old and Lowell three years old. 

Mr. Brower moved to Harrison County in the 
vear 187Q. After finishing the district schools 
and Stanberry college, he taught school in Har- 
rison and Mercer counties for nine years. He 
was in the produce business for four years- He 
entered the government employ as mail clerk in 
1905. In Oct. 1908, he took charge of the Brim 
son lumber yard. 

In politics, Mr. Brower favors the Republican 
party. 

D. C. BROWN, JR., son of Hon. D. C. and 
Martha J. Brown, was born in Harrison town- 
ship, three miles northeast of Brimson, Feb. 18, 
1 88 1. He now lives at Brimson. He was edu- 
cated at the district school. 

Mr. Brown was married June 26, 1904 to Hattie 
Gregg, a daughter of Thomas Gregg and a niece 
of Prof. J. D- Campsey. They have one child, 
Harry Campsey, born Sept. 13, 1905. 

The subject of this sketch lived with his father 
until 1898, when he commenced working for a 
railroad in Nebraska. From 1901 to 1902, he 
was a cowboy in Colorado. On Jan. 15, 1904, 
ne was appointed mail carrier. Since that time 
he has been in the livery and farming business. 

In politics. Vr. Brown is a Republican. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 641 

E. E. BROW X, son of J. H. and Louisa 
Brown, the former of whom is dead and the latter 
of whom Hves at Trenton, was born in Grundy 
County, near Edinburg, April 21, 1864. He now 
lives on Route seven, Trenton. He was married 
to Lula Buchanan, daughter of A. H- Buchanan, 
Oct. 3, 1889. She died June 5, 1895. He was 
married to Nannie Buchanan, daughter of A. H. 
Buchanan, Alarch 19, 1901. She was born June 
18, 1880. By his first wife he has two children; 
Lydia Vernon, born July 2, 1892, and Lulu Lee, 
born Dec. 30, 1894. By his second wife he had 
four children; Leonard H., born Feb. 28, 1903; 
Helen L., born Jan. 28, 1905; Frances, born Dec. 
4, 1907 and Harold, born July 3, 1909. 

Mr. Brown was born on a farm near Edinburg 
and lived there with his parents until married. He 
then went to farming for himself. Jtist before his 
marriage, he spent about six months in Oregon in 
the mercantile business- On his return, he mar- 
ried and went to Oklahoma near Oklahoma City. 
He stayed there five years engaged in farming, his 
wife dying while there. He returned to Grundy 
County and shortly afterward bought his present 
farm and married, his second wife being a sister of 
his first. His farm consists of 40 acres, adjoin- 
ing that of his father in law, seven miles northwest 
of Trenton. Mr. Brown belongs to the Odd Fellow 
and M. W. A. lodges. They are members of the 
Mehodist church. 



uz 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




THOMAS A. BROWN. 

THOMAS A. BROWN, son of D. C. and 
Martha J. Br(n\n \vas 1:)orn in Grundy County, 
March i8, 1876. He was educated in the district 
schools, Grand River Colleg'e and the Kirksville 
Normal. He farmed and tauglit school until 1903 
when he sold his farm in Daviess County and found- 
ed the Brimson Banner, a weekly newspaper pub- 
lished at Brimson. He was editor of this paper 
for two and one half years. Tn i()04, he was ap- 
pointed postmaster and served almost a year re- 
signing in 1905. During' this time he had en- 
gaged in the im])lement and \ehicle business with 
his father under the firm name of Brown & Son- 
He sold his newspaper in order to devote his entire 
time to the Vehicle and Hardware business. The 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 643 

firm continued in business until Jan. i, 1909, when 
his father retired and it became the firm of Brown 
& Hudson, which firm now carries an extensive 
stock of hardware and implements. 

Mr. Brown was married June 20, 1906 to Dora 
M. Gardner, daughter of W. G. Gardner of Gilman 
Gity. They have had two children ; Edith Evelyn, 
born June 12, 1907, died April 7, 1908; and Cleo 
May, born Aug. 24, 1908. 

Mr. Brow-n served one year as trustee of Taylor 
township. Tn connection with his implements 
and Hardware he does an extensive l)usiness in 
shipping live stock and grain. 

ARCH BRUCE was born in Linn Coutny, 
Missouri, March 24, 1875. He now lives three 
miles solithwest of Laredo. He was educated in 
the pul:)lic schools of Linn County and the Kirks- 
ville ?itate Normal. He was married Feb. 20, 1895 
to Nancy Kilburn, who was born Aug. 31, 1875. 
They have four children; Marvin L-, born Feb. 
1898: Ralph, J^,orn Jan. 4. 1902; Fauntell. born July 
5, 1904: John Quincy, l,orn June 13, 1907. 

INIr. Bruce's parents were O. R. Bruce, horn in 
Ohio Aug. 31, 1839, and M. J. (Smith) Bruce, 
born Sept. 2C), 1847. Mrs Bruce's parents were 
John Kilburn, born Fe1x t8, 1841 and Ann (War- 
ren) Kilburn. 

After completing- the common schools of Linn 
County. ^Tr. Bruce at the age of seventeen, went to 
the State Normal at Kirksville, Mo., returning to 
his father's farm and staying until his marriage. 



644 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

He married a Grundy County girl and came lo this 
county to reside. Mr. Bruce has a beautiful home 
and a fine farm of 80 acres, it being located on the 
prairie just southwest of Laredo. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics. He belongs to the A- 1\ and A. 
M. Lodge No. 253, Laredo and to the chapter of 
Royal Arch Masons at Chillicothe. He belongs to 
the Baptist church. 

J. A. CLAYPOLE is a son of James and Mary 
Ann Claypole, old reridents of this coimty, both de- 
ceased. He was born within a mile of his present 
home, July 3, 1863. He was married Jan. i, 1882, 
to Irene C. Barr. daughter of David Barr, of an old 
f^nu'ly. They have three children; David H,, born 
Sept. 22^, 1882; Mary Cordia, May 21, 1887; and 
Robert Arthur, Dec. 2, 1889. 

Mr. Claypole lived until grown on the farm 
on which he was born, then began farming for him-* 
self. He farmed just east of his present home for 
five years, then bought the farm where he has since 
lived. It has a hundred and thirty acres of well im- 
proved land, a pretty home and good barn. Mr. 
Claypole is a stockholder in the Citizens bank, at 
Laredo, and is interested in other business enter- 
prises, 

Mrs. Claypole was born Feb. i'^, 1865, near 
her present home. Their son, David H., is married 
and lives just west of his father. Their daughter, 
Mary Cordia, is now Mrs. Otto Elliott, and lives 
in the same neighborhood. Robert A. is also mar- 
ried, and lives at his father's home. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 645 

W. R. COIT is a son of Royal B. and Clarissa 
Coit. His father died in 1907. His mother lives 
with him. He was l:iorn in Portage county, (_)hio, 
Oct. 18, 1866, and now lives on route two, Trenton. 
He was married Dec. 31, 1892, to Miss Mildred 
Tinkle, .daughter of Jacob Tinkle, deceased. They 
ha\'e two children; Gail \\\, born Feb. 22, 1894, and 
Bruce E., born April 25, 1895. 

]\h'. Coit came from Ohio with his parents 
to Grundy county in 1882, settling on what was 
known as the Milton Cook farm, where h. N. Rob- 
ertson now lives. He lived at home until his mar- 
riage, when he moved to his present farm, a part 
of which was given him by his parents at that time. 
The original farm contained eight}^ acres. Air. 
Coit has since bought forty acres more. He has 
built a pretty home, and has the farm well improved. 
Mrs. Coit is a member of the Methodist church. He 
is a Democrat, but remembers his Republican 
friends in county elections. 

T. B. CRUTCHER, son of Peter and Eliza 
Crutcher, both of whom are dead, was born in Jes- 
samine County, Kentucky, Feb. 28, 1852. He now 
lives on Route one, Trenton. He was educated 
in the public schools. 

Mr. Crutcher was married May 3, 1877 to Mary 
F. Froman, daughter of Thomas Froman. They 
hnve eight children: Anna E., born Sept. 28, 1879, 
now Mrs. Geo. Sutton; Carrie, July 2, 1883; Sadie 
T., May 2, 1886, now Mrs. Earl Barrett of Kansas 
City; Woodie, June 24, 1888; Nona D., Sept. 21, 
1890, now Mrs. Leslie Tharp; Mattie M., May 12, 



646 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

1894; Maggie, July 6, 1896, and Tracy, Alay 2, 
1900. Mrs. Crutcher was born in Daviess Coun- 
ty, Nov. 30, i860, l3Ut has lived in Grundy County 
practically all her life. 

The subject of this sketch was Ixirn and reared 
on a farm in Kentucky and lived with his parents 
until he was twenty five years of age. He then 
married and came to Grundy County. His wife 
although a Missourian. had l)een living in Ken- 
tucky about a year. He settled near Trenton 
first and then moved to Lincoln towaiship where 
he has lived continuously since. He has leased 
seA'eral farms and in the spring of 1909 rented the 
Harry Hall farm, three miles east of Tindall. T<- 
consists of 80 acres. 

SAA'UEL SUBLETTE DAY was born in 
Martonsburg, Keokuk County, Iowa, July 2(;, 1854. 

He was married Dec. 5, 1875 to Olive Penick, 
He is a son of Francis and Mary (Noble) Day. 
They have four children. Mary, wife of R. G. 
Sheets of Kansas City; Elsie, wife of W. L. Rucker, 
of New Jersey; Arthur, in New York, manager of 
the Franco American Bank, headquarters in Paris, 
married Miss Kennefick of Kansas City; and Vane, 
fourteen years old. 

Air. Day was reared on a farm in Martinsburg 
and in Sullivan C(Uinty. He was a merchant in 
Newtown for three years. He organized a bank at 
Harris, then went to Gallatin where he was cash- 
ier of the First National Bank for four vears. He 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 647 

then came to Trenton and has since l^een cashier 
of the Citizen's State IJank. He is a director and 
the largest stockholder of that hank. He is a di- 
rector of the N^ational I'ank of the Republic of Kan- 
sas City. He has a farm near Trenton where he 
raises fine cattle and ^'ood horses. He belongs to 
the Masons, Elks, M. W. A. and Eastern Star 
He has a fine residence on Prospect street in Tren- 
ton. 

JOHN DO AX, son of John and Sarah Doan, 
was born on the old Doan homestead six miles 
north of Trenton. ( )ctober lo, iX6i. and lived there 
until his marriage with Miss Mary E. Gates, 
daughter of C^rus Gates, Nov. 12, 1885. His 
father dying in 1876, he helped his mother to run 
the farm until his marriage, soon after which he 
bought the farm on which he now lives, near his 
old home. There are three hundred and twenty 
acres in the farm on which he lives, and he owns 
a part of the old Gates farm. Mr. Doan in ad- 
dition to regular farming and stock raising, is a 
breeder of Shro])shire sheep and Shorthorn cattle. 
Mr. and Mrs. Doan have eight children. De- 
borah, born Aug. 28, 1886, graduated in 1909 in 
the medical department of the Illinois state univer- 
sity and is a student of Barnes University, St Louis; 
Mabel, born Aug. 13, 1890, is a student in the nor- 
mal at Kirksville; Nellie, born Sept. 5, 1891, is a 
member of the senior class in the Trenton high 
school; Lucy was born in July, 1896; Mary L., 
Sept. 24, 1897; Mildred, Sept. 25, 1899; Zelpha, 



648 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Jan. 23, 1903; and Justin, May 25, 1906. 

John Doan, Sr. was born in Philadelphia in 
1 801, and came to this county in 1858. His wife, 
Sarah Doan, aged seventy eigiit lives on the old 
home place. 

J. A. DONALDSON is a son of Edward 
Donaldson, deceased, and Evaline Donaldson. He 
was born in Grundy County near Spickard, July 
2y, 1861. He now lives on Route one, Trenton. 
He was educated in the public schools. He was 
married Dec. 30. 1886 to Mary J. Hughes, daugh- 
ter of William and Ann E- Hughes. Mrs Don- 
aldson is also a native of Grundy County, born 
near Spickard, Aug. 7, 1866. They have one 
child, Grace, born Oct. ij, 1887, now Mrs. Charles 
Bosley of Spickard. 

The subject of this sketch was born ancL reared 
on a farm near Spickard and lived there until 
gro\\'n and married, then went to farming for 
himself. He leased land two years, then became 
owner of part of the Hughes farm near Spickard. 
After having lived there eight years, in 1895 ^^^ 
bought the farm where he has since lived. It 
consists of 120 acres, well improved with a 1)eau- 
tiful home, three and a half miles east of Tindall, 
in Lincoln township. He is a member of the Odd 
Fellow lodge. Mrs Donaldson is a member of 
the Christian church. 

L. F. DUKE was born in Jefferson County, 
Iowa, Jan. 13, 1876. He is the son oof W. L, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 649 

and Alary Duke of Trenton. He now resides 
on Route six, Trenton. He was educated in the 
public schools. 

On July 4, 1897, jNIr. Duke married Jennie C. 
Betz, daughter of \\ m. Betz. They have four 
children. Mrs. Duke was born near Grundy Cen- 
ter, Oct. (S, i8;7S. The children are Franklin \'., 
born Jan. i, 1899; Leland E., born Feb. 13, iQOi ; 
Buford J\l., born April 9, 1903, died Dec. 2t,, 1904; 
Treva O., born April 12, 1905; Theron E., born 
Dec. 31, 1906. 

]\Ir. Duke was born and reared on a farm in Jef- 
ferson County, Iowa. He lived there until 1895 
W'hen he came to Grundy Count}- with his parents, 
settling- on a farm near Grundy Center, then known 
as the Sim Jones farm, which his father bought. 
He lived v.ith his parents until grown. He then 
Avent to ^\'ork for the Rock Lsleand remaining in 
their employ nearly three years. He managed 
the Carpenter place for a time and in the spring of 
1909, moved to his father's farm, where he now 
lives. The farm consists of zS^o acres well im- 
proved, and fine home. 

JESSE DUNLAP, son of Freeman and Mel- 
"vina Dunlap, was born in Grundy County, near his 
present home, Feb. 20, 1869. He was married to 
Sophi? Hildebrand, Jan. i, 1901. His wife is a 
daughter of John Hildebrand. They have no child- 
ren. 

Mr. Dunlap lived on the home farm until mar- 
ried, when he bought his present farm on Route two, 



650 



HISTORY OF GRUKDY COUNTY 




RESIDENCE OF JESS DUNLAP 



where iie has since hved. He has one hiiiKh'ed and 
sixtv acres of land, well ini])roved. 

^ rs. Dunlap is a menil)er of the Christian church. 
She was l)orn in (h-nndy County, Decemlier 3, 1S70. 

ISAAC ELLIOTT, son of Elijah and Dorcas 
Ellintt. was horn in ^lorgan County, Ohio, Oct. 12, 
1843. Hewas married Sept. 10, 1S65, in Ohio, 
to Esther Harkins. Mrs Elliott was horn in Mor- 
gan County, (^hio, Nov. 10, 1841, and died Xov. 
31, KjO/. They have seven children living, and one 
dead. Ernest, horn ]\Iay 24, 1866, lives on an ad- 
joining farm; Frank, horn ALay i, 1867, is in Tex- 
as; Lemuel, horn June 17, 1869, was killed hy a 
runaway horse, Dec. 25, 1885; Noel, horn Lan. ij, 
1872, lives on an adjoining farm; John D., horn 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 651 

Jan. 27, 1874, lives west of the home place; Wilber 
T., born Dec. 29, 1876, in U. S. Government service 
at Washington. I). C. ; Wm. C, hovn Dec. 25, 1879, 
lives four miles east of the home place; Augustus 
Otho, born May 29, 1883, with his wife, Cor- 
cla Claypole, daughter of James Claypole, have lived 
with Mr. Elliott since the death of his wife. 

Mr. Elliott grew to nianhood on his father's farm 
in Ohio, then when married l^ought a farm near the 
old home place, which he occupied until 1882, when 
he came to Grundy County and bought his present 
farm, on Route two, east of Trenton. ^Ir. Elliott 
makes a specialty of Delaine sheep, and has a fine 
flock of over a hundred head of pure bred animals. 
He of course raises other live stock. He has an 
excellently improved farm and a pretty home. 

Durino- the war, Mr. Elliott served in Co. K. 
161 st Ohio volunteer infantry. He belongs to the 
R. P. Carnes Post G. A. R., at Dunlap. He is a 
Republican in ]:)olitics. 

C. S. ENDICOTT is a son of J. J. and Melissa 
Endicott. His father came to Missouri in 1864. 
Mr. Endicott was born in Trenton, where he now 
lives, Sept. 8th, 1867. He was married June 17th 
1890, to Irene Walker, of Illinois. 

Mr. Endicott moved with his parents to 
Daviess County when nine years old, and remain- 
ed there ten years, returning in 1885. He learned 
the carpenter trade when quite young, going to 
W'Ork at that and in the contracting business on 
his return from Daviess County in 1885, since 



652 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



which lime he has ]aiilt many residences and otb.er 
biiildines. 




RESIDENCE OF O. T. ELLINGTON. 



O. T. ELLINCxTON, who Hves on route three, 
Trenton, JMo., is a son of J. M. and Susan Elhngton, 
and he w^as born in Adams County, Ihinois, Feb. 
4, 1861. He was married December 28, 1882, to 
Miss Maggie Belshe, daughter of J. C. Belshe. 
They have seven children. Mary Ethel was born 
Sept. 4, 1884; Edna Bernice, April 29, 1888; Su- 
san Mony, December 2, 1893; Ralph Belshe, June 
4, 1896; James Wendell, August 19, 1899; Cordelia 
Margaret, August 29. 1901 ; Claude LeRoy, Nov. 
14, 1903. 

Mr. Ellington lived in Illinois until 1879, com- 
ing with his parents to Grundy County at that time. 
When he was married he began farming for him- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 653 

self, where he now owns three hundred and sixty 
acres of splendid land three and a half miles south- 
east of Trenton. Mr. Ellington handles good live 
stock, dealing especially in cattle. 

Both he and Airs. Ellington are members of 
the Christian church. 

DR. JESSE F. FAIR, a son of Joel J. Fair, 
was born in Harrison County, Mo., Jan. 9th, 1858. 
He was married to Maude Coffey, February 28, 
1884. They have seven children. 

Dr. Fair lived on a farm until grown, when he 
took a three years course in Avalon college. He 
taught school several terms, and studied medicine 
under Dr. F. E. Coffey. He graduated at the 
Homeopathic Aledical College of Alissouri, at St. 
Louis, in 1885, and since that time has practiced 
his profession. He was located at Avalon for one 
3^ear, at Blue Ridge, Mo., two years, at Tribune, 
Kansas, one year, then at Helena, Mo., for eleven 
years coming to Trenton in 1899, where he has since 
lived. 

Dr. Fair is a specialist on diseases of w'omen 
and children, and has taken several post graduate 
courses since his graduation. 

H. F. FICKEL was born in Wilson township 
Grundy County, on Feb 7, 1871. He now lives 
two and one fourth miles southeast of Laredo. He 
was educated in the public schools of the county. 
On Nov. 2, 1898, he was married to Josie Bell 
Lightner, born Jan. 11, 1879. Mrs Fickel was 
the daughter of C. R. Lightner and Hulda (Owen) 



654 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Lightner. Mr. Fickel's parents were Daniel Fick- 
el, born in Indiana April 13, 1834, died April 13, 

1901, and Anna (Barnett) Fickel, born in Ohio, 
Feb. 4, 1842. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fickel have four children. Etha 
Jewel, born Jan. 5, 1900; Kittie May, born Dec. 9, 
1 901 ; Dollie \'., Jan. 17, 1906. an infant died un- 
named. 

Mr. Fickel stayed at home and worked for his 
father for which he was given one of the best farms 
in the county. He lives on it at present. He 
handles the Hereford cattle and has one of the 
] e^t herds in the country. Tn politics, Mr. Fickel 

is a Democrat. 

B. M. FORD is a son of Laban Ford, who 
came to Missouri in 1819 and died in 185 1. Mr. 
Ford was born in Howard County, Mo., Octobei 
21. 1826. He was married April 10, 1849, to Elinor 
Tharp of Howard County. The}' ha\-e had seven 
children, five of whom are living. James Thomas, 
born FelM'uary 20, 1850. now lives at Emporia, 
Kansas: Sarah Jane, born January 29, 1852, now 
J\Trs. J. L. Steel of Minneapolis, Kansas; Elizabeth 
iM-ances. January 29. 1852, now Mrs. G. W. Skaggs 
of Minneapolis. Kansas; B. F. Ford, March 10, 
i860, lives two miles east of Trenton, Mo.; Nancy 
Ellen. June 10, 1863, now Mrs. R. L. Evans 

Mr. Ford moved to this county in the fall of 
1 8r 1. nnd entered two hundred acres of land six 
mile-; northeast of Trenton, Mo., on which he lived 
forty-one years. He quit farming and moved to 
'J'renton in 1896, selling his stock and farm. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



655 




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656 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Forcl is a member of the Christian church 
and is a man of that strength of character which 
gives moral tone to a community. 

ROSA T. FORD, daughter of R. W. and 
Elizabeth (Hedrix) Browning was born on 
Feb. 20, i^yy. She was married to G. W. P'ord, 
June 2, 1896. Four children were born to them; 
John R., was born June 17, 1897; Landon B., Dec. 
1899; Bertha L., Sept. 9, 1901, died April 26, 1904^ 
and Opal, Aug. 31, 1903. G. \V. Ford died March 
21, 1907. Mrs. Ford is a member of the Christ- 
ian church and the Yeoman lodge. She lives on 
her farm on Route one, ten miles north of Gait. (See 
page 288.) 

DR. MOSES FREY came from an old \^ir- 
ginia family, locating in Fairfield County, Ohio,, 
in the early part of the last century. He took his-i 
degree at the Starling Aledical College, Columbus, 
Ohio, in 1846. Julia Pullen was the daughter of 
Judge Thomas W. Pullen, a pioneer in the Hock- 
ing valley, Ohio, having emigrated from England 
prior to the war of 181 2. Moses Frey and Julia 
Pullen were married in 1844. To them were born 
five children, of which the oldest was George W., 
born July 9, 1846. 

George W. Frey was educated in the common 
and high schools of Logan and Hocking Counties, 
Ohio, and at the University of Athens. Ohio. He 
taup-ht in the ])ublic schools of Ohio and Missouri 
from 1865^-94. In 1895, he was instrumental in or- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 657 

ganizing the Mutual Insurance Co., of this coun- 
ty, which has become a strong organization, giving 
protection to the farmers of the county at less than 
half the standard rate. 

Sarah M., the oldest daughter of Joseph D., and 
Mary Virginia DeWolf was born at Haydenville, 
Ohio, Oct. 24, 1846, and educated at the Mc Arthur, 
(Ohio) high school. Her father was of an old 
German-French family. Her mother, whose maid- 
en name was Rice, traces her ancestry in a direct 
line to the Mayflower. 

George W. Frey and Sarah M. DeWolf were 
married Oct. 26, 1869. '^^ them were born six 
children; Charles W., W m. A., Julia V., Mary H., 
Fanny J., and Arthur W. All are living but Mary, 
who died May 12, 1903. 

Mr. Frey has been secretary of the Farmers 
Mutual Insurance Company from its organization. 
He owns a fine farm two and a half miles north of 
Trenton, and is associated with his youngest son in 
the stock business. He has been an Odd Fellow for 
35 years and an active member of the M. E. Church 
for 45 years. 

FREDERICK D. FULKERSON son of 
Joshua and Margaret Fulkerson was born one 
half mile south of Brimson, July 28, 1870. He was 
educated in the district schools. Grand River Col- 
lege at Edinburg and the University of Missouri. 
He has never married. 

Mr. Fulkerson was born on the farm where he 
now lives and after attending the district schools 



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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 659 

and the College at Edinburg, went to the State 
University in 1895, 1896, and 1897 where he stud- 
ied law. During the latter part of his junior 
year, he was called home on account of sickness 
and he never returned. He has been engaged in 
scientific hog and cattle raising since he left 
school and now has some of the best Poland china 
hogs in the United States as was shown a short 
time ago when some of the British colonies of 
South Africa wrote him that they had the only Po- 
lend Chinas in that country and that they had come 
from his herd. His herd has a more than state 
wide reputation and his sales are attended by the 
leading breeders in the great hog belt of the Miss- 
issippi Valley. 

In politics IVlr. Fulkerson favors the Republican 
party. 

E. W. FULLERTON was born in Wayne, 
County, Iowa, March 9, 1870. He is a son of E. 
W. and Mary Fullerton, the former of whom died 
fourteen, and the latter twenty four years ago. He 
was married March 7, 1894 to Edna McKay, who 
died Sept. i, 1897. To them was born one child, 
Harry M., Aug. 24, 1897. Mr. Fullerton was then 
married to Hannah Williams, daughter of John R. 
Williams, Feb. 15 ,1903. They have two children; 
Mary, born JMarch 7, 1904: and Carl E., born July 
20, 1905. 

Mr. Fullerton lived with his parents on an Iowa 
farm until twelve years old, when they came to 
Grundv Count v. His mother died soon after, his 




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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 661 

father ten years later. On his father's death, Mr. 
Fullerton took charge of the farm, it being after- 
wards divided between him and his sister. He has 
bought a hundred and five acres adjoining his por- 
tion. The land is situated ten miles south east of 
Trenton, and is well improved, with good buildings. 
Mr. Fullerton is serving his second term as col- 
lector of Marion township. He is a member of 
•the Baptist Church. 

G. W. GALL, son of John and Anna Gall, was 
born in Carroll County, Ohio, June 26th, 1847. He 
was married to Mary E. Johnson April 2nd, 1874. 
They have seven children. They are Elmer, who 
lives in Canada and is married; Bessie M., now Mrs. 
John Harlin, who lives in Stockport, la. ; Curtis B., 
who is single and lives in Fairfield, la. ; Virgie B.,. 
now Mrs. Williams, lives in Canada; John H., mar- 
ried and lives in California; Chester S., married, 
lives in Kansas City and is in the employ of the 
Rock Island railroad, and George E., in Oregon. 
His wife died July i6th, 1891. He was married to 
Geneva Overman, daughter of Abel Overman, 
January 20, 1901. They have one child, Mildred 
Lucile, born June 15, 1906. 

Mr. Gall moved to Indiana with his parents 
when a small boy. He lived there on a farm until 
grown then went to Iowa where he did farming 
till 1 90 1 when he came to Grundy County and 
"bought the Baker farm which consists of two hun- 
dred and eighty acres. In the fall of 1908 he sold 
one hundred and thirty acres to J. H. Merryman. 
He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Masons. Mrs. 



662 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUx\TY 



Gall belongs to the Methodist church. He handles 
fine horses and lives two and one-half miles north 
of Trenton on route one. 

C. D. GASS was born in Richland County, 
Ohio, March 3, 1836. He lives on Route six, 
Trenton, Mo. Mr. Gass was married March 14, 
1865, to Olive S. Young, of Ohio. The^y have five 
children. Laura I., now Mrs. B. F. Humphrey, 




RESIDENCE OF C. D. GASS 



was born Dec. 2^, 1865; Ernest R., who lives near 
the home place, Dec. 15, 1868; Preston Y., an osteo- 
path, of Beatrice, Nebraska, Oct. 25, 1873; Lloyd 
L., who is practicing osteopathy in Joplin, Mo. 
July 31, 1880; Grace G., now Mrs. C. O. Thompson, 
Feb. 15, 1883. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



663 



Mr. Gass came to Missouri from Ohio in 1872, 
and settled on his present home. He was on his 
wav to Kansas, when he met sixteen famihes whom 
he had known in Ohio, and conckided to locate here. 
He accordingly bought a one hundred and forty 
acre farm, five and a half miles north east of Tren- 
ton, afterwards buying land in other parts of the 
county ?.nd in the suburbs of Trenton. Mr. Gass 
has made a specialty of sheep raising. 5 

All of Ml. Gass's children are married but one, 
Dr. Lloyd L., of Joplin. During the war, Mr. 
Gass serA^ed in the 86th Ohio volunteer infantry- 
Company C. He belongs to Col. Jacob Smith Post, 
G. A. R.' 

E. R. GASS, son of C. D. and Olive Gass, was 
born Dec. 15, 1868, in Williams County, Ohio. He 




KESir)KNCE OF K. R. CASS 



664 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 

now lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. He was 
educated in the public schools and the Kirksville 
Normal. 

He was married Jan. 3, 1892, to Dollie Baker, 
who was born Sept. 4, 1872, on the old Baker place 
near Trenton, Mo. She belongs to an old time 
family of the county, and is a sister of J. O. Baker. 
They have seven children; Gladys A., born Feb. 8, 
1893; Conan D., born June 20, 1896; Clay R., born 
Sept. 8, 1898; Willa M., born Oct. 25, 1900; Cleo 
N., born Dec. 29, 1902; Grace G., born Aug. 21, 
1905; Olive E., born Jan. 9, 1908. One child, 
born Nov. 4, 1894, died about fourteen months 
later. 

Mr. Gass came to Grundy County with his par- 
ents in 1873. His father bought land six miles north 
east of Trenton in the Grundy Center neighbor- 
hood. He lived there with his parents until 
grown and married. He then went to farming 
for himself. He bought a farm just west of his 
father's where he lived seven years. He then pur- 
chased the present farm, one mile southeast of the 
home place and has lived there since. His farm 
consists of 88 acres, is well improved and he has a 
pretty home. 

OTTO GEHLBACH was born in Bavaria, 
Germany, June 18, 1848. He landed in America in 
May, 1867, and came to Grundy County within a 
years, settling first slightly east of his present home, 
where he engaged in farming. He bought his pres- 
ent place and moved to his present home in the rich 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 665 

country between Trenton and Tindall in 1895. Mr. 
Gehlbach at first bought a small farm and added 
to it until he now has 560 acres in one body. 

Mr. Gehlbach is a noted breeder of shorthorns, 
having been in the business for eighteen years. The 
world champion cow, Rowena 2nd, owned by H. J. 
Hughes, was bred by Mr. Gehlbach. 

He was married to Elizabeth Wolz, daugh- 
ter of Michael Wolz, Sept. 18, 1873. Nine children 
were born to them: Emma, Mrs. Frank Butler, 
July 21, 1874; Mary M., Mrs. Roy Jackson, May 
28, 1876; Nora, Jan. 16, 1878; Lula, Mrs. C. A. 
Pennell, March 16, 1880; Nettie, Oct. 19, 1883, 
died Aug. 18, 1907; Albert R., Feb. 26, 1885; Gus 
S., May I, 1887; Florence, July i, 1890; Charles 
H., May 25, 1892. 

ALFRED GRAY, son of Alfred and Eliza- 
beth Gray was born in Mercer county, 111., July 30, 
1848. He was married December 19, 1868, to 
Mary, daughter of J. M. Leisure. They have five 
children living and four are dead. 

Mr. Gray was born and reared on a farm. 
When about grown he went to the Exline Semin- 
ary, at Fairfield, la., where he graduated in 1867. 
After his marriage, he farmed for three years 
after which he traveled for a wholesale house in 
Ottumwa, Iowa for ten years, then lived for 
three years in Nebraska. Mr. Gray came to Grun- 
dy county in 1883 and lived for ten years on a farm 
near Edinburg. He then came to Trenton and went 
into the real estate business with E. L. Winters. He 
joined Orville Dixon in a partnership in the real 



666 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



estate and loan business in 1908, under the firm 
name of Gray & Dixon. 

T. A. GOSE, son of David and Cyrelda Gose, 
was born in Morgan County, Indiana, Aug. 6, 




RESIDENCE OF T. A. GOSE 



1875. His father Hves in Mercer County, near 
Spickard, his mother died in 1907. 

Mr. Gose left Indiana with his parents in 1879, 
and came to Mercer County, where he lived with 
his parents until grown. He then farmed in Mer- 
cer County a number of years. In 1907, he pur- 
chased the A. G. Knight farm of four hundred 
and sixty acres, six miles east of Trenton, where he 
has since lived. Mr. Gose went to Montana in 
1 90 1, and ran a sheep ranch for seven years. He 
was also in Wyoming a short time. On his return 
from the west, he bought his present farm. 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



667 



H. S. HALL, son of John J. Hall, was bora 
in Durham, England, Feb. ii, 1851. He came 
with his ]:)arents to America in 1867. He landed 
in Pennsylvania, and worked for seven years in 
the coal mines of that state. He moved to Iowa 
in 1876, where he went to farming, his parents 
coming the next year. In 1896, Mr. Hall came to 
Grundy County, having bought a one hundred and 
sixty acres farm seven miles north of Trenton the 
previous year. He also bought one hundred and 
twenty acres in the river bottom at the same time, 
and later bought eighty acres in the Paint Lick 




REV. J. B. BENTON, PaMur of the Baptist Church, Trenton. Mo 



668 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



neighborhood. He has a splendid farm and a 
very pretty home. 

Mr. Hall was married to Frances E. Goodman, 
daughter of Isaac Goodman, Sept. 7, 1876. Mrs. 
Hall was born in Schuylkill County, Penn., Jan. 
5, 1854. They have two children. J. Johnson 
was born June 26, 1877, and Isaac G., Jan. 13, 1886. 
Mr. Hall's mother, who is now Mrs. Ann Richard- 
son, lives with her son. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are 
members of the Methodist Church. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic lodge. Mr. Hall is justice of 
the peace for Lincoln township. 

SELAH HART was born in Morgan County, 
Ohio, August 15, 1836. He lived in Ohio until 
1874, when he came to Grundy County where he 




RESIDENCE OF SELAH HART 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 669 

has since lived. He settled first in the eastern 
part of the county, buying a farm on which he lived 
three years. He then sold that place and bought 
the Lane farm in the Rural Dale neighborhood, 
where he lived until 1885, when he bought the farm 
he now owns. It is five and one half miles south 
east of Trenton, and contains two hundred and forty 
acres of well improved land and a fine home. 

Mr. Hart was married June 24, 1869 to Rebecca 
Murphy, who died March 31, 1878. Three child- 
ren were born to them; Mary, June 2, 1870, who is 
now Mrs. Ed Urton; Frank, November 29, 1871'ii 
now in Okmulgee, Okla., ; Anna, Feb. 7, 1873, now 
at Seattle. Mr. Hart was married Sept. 4, 1879, 
to Mrs. Rachel DeWees, who died August 13, 1883, 
He was married Dec. 3, 1890 to Mrs Charlotte 
Buchanan. 

Mr. Hart is a member of the M. E. Church. Mrs. 
Hart is a Presbyterian. 

W. C. HARTLEY, son of S. A. and Ann L. 
Hartley was born in Grundy County, August 26, 
1878. He lives on Route two, Trenton, Mo. He 
was married Sept. 17, 1902, to Stella Kilburn, of 
Laredo. They have one son, Clyde L., born May 
26, 1907. Three children died in infancy. 

Mr. Hartley lived on his father's farm, eight 
miles east of Trenton, until grown. He then went 
to Kansas and worked a year on a ranch. The 
next year, he went to Wyoming where he started 
into the sheep shearing business, doing this work 



670 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 



in Montana, Idaho, and other h'lg sheep regions of 
the country. He also followed this work in Illi- 
nois for a time. He followed this during the 
summer, and in the fall and winter, ran a saw^ mill 
near his old home, being regarded one of the most 
expert sheep shearers in the country. He bought 




RESIDENCE OF W. C. HARTLEY 



the Henry Anderson place, which he now owns 
located three and a half miles north west of La- 
redo. He also owns forty acres on Medicine 
Creek. Since buying his land, he has given the 
greater part of his attention to farming, doing 
sheep shearing in the season and in his own com- 
munity. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge and 
he and Mrs. Hartley are members of the Baptist 
Church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 671 

D. A. HOLLOW AY was born in Grundy 
County, Mo., Dec. 13, 1845. ^^ ^^^^^ the son of 
J. W. Holloway, born July 2t„ 1827, died Dec. 13, 
1889, and Mary (Merryman) Holloway, born in 
1828, in Rockcastle, Kentucky. He was educated 
in the public schools of the county. 

He was married on Jan. 10, 1867, to Julia F. 
Tindall,born Aug. 17, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Hol- 
loway had nine children. Leona F., born Dec. 
29, 1867; Dortha J., born Nov. 6, 1870, died April 
24, 1886; Willard H., born Sept. 3, 1873; Mary L., 
born May 5, 1877; John R., born Aug. 26, 1879; 
Olive F., born Sept. 11, 1884; Daniel H., born Oct. 
6, 1886; Alice L., born Dec. 16, 1889, died Sept. 
24, 1902; Everett., born June 26, 1894. 

Mr. Holloway enlisted in the army, May 2, 1864 
to Jan. 25, 1866. He was in the 115th. Illinois 
infantry. He resided in the county from 1866 
to 1896, then he went to south Missouri until 1905, 
when he came to his present home. Mr. Hollo- 
way owns 160 acres in Douglas County, Mo. 

Mr. Holloway married the daughter of Parham 
Tindall, born Feb. 6, 1828, died June 12, 1904, and 
Lydia (Rinker) Tindall, born July 29, 1829, died 
Jan. 30, 1909. 

He is a Republican in politics. 

PLATT HUBBELL, one of Trenton's lead- 
ing attorneys, says that his chief claim to distinct- 
ion is that he was born in a log cabin. While by 
no means his chief claim to distinction, it is never- 
theless true. He was born at the old home place 



672 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



where his grandmother now resides in this county- 
Jan. 12, 1870 and is of a weU known family whose 
members are among the early pioneers of this 
state and have wielded a potent influence in its 
history. He received his early education in the 
public schools of this county and then read law 
under the late George H. Hubbell and Judge Wil- 
lard P. Hall, who was for a time in partnership 
with Major Hubbell. He was admittted to the 
bar in 1891, and at once began practicing in this 
city, in which he has achieved success. His busi- 
ness is devoted almost exclusively to civil busi- 
ness and he does not take business from Corpor- 
ations, preferring to devote his time to the cause 
of the people. He is a Democrat in politics, but 




RESIDENCE OF W. T. WILSON 



•" HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 672 

has never asked for any office of any kind, al- 
though taking- a deep interest in all matters po- 
litical. 

He was united in marriage at St Joseph, Mis- 
souri, March 4, 1909 to Miss Maud Irene Ray, a 
meml)er of a well known family of that city. 

W. J. HUGHES, son of Moses Hughes who 
died in 1861, and Elizabeth Bradburg Hughes 
who died in 18(89, was born in Schuyler County, 
Missouri, June 21, 1852. Mr. Hughes lives on 
Route six, Trenton, Mo. He was educated in 
the public schools. 

]\Ir. Hughes was married April 9, 1872 to Mary 
A. Starr. They have six children. ^Irs. Hughes 
was born Nov. 2, 1849 ^^^ Mercer County, where she 
lived until after marriage. 

Mr. Hughes was born and reared in Schuyler 
County where he lived until sixteen years of age. 
He then moved to Mercer County, where he lived 
at home until grown. He then went to farming 
for himself and lived there until 1889, wdien he 
moved to Grundy County, where he has lived con- 
tinuously. He bought the Wiggins farm near 
Tindall, where he lived thirteen years. He sold 
that and since has been renting, living on several 
farms. Mr. Hughes leased the William Lockhart 
place in 1905 and has lived there since. It is four 
and one half miles northeast of Trenton and con- 
sists of 120 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes both 
belong to the Christian church. Mr. Hughes is 
a carpenter by trade. When a small boy, his par- 



674 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

cnts moved to Arkansas, returning to Mercer 
County where he worked at his trade and farmed. 
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are Syl- 
vester B., born Jan. 29, 1874, who is married and 
Mv£S in Nebraska; Edward J., born Aug. 2^, 1876, 
Ts.Who Hives at home; Nettie, born Sept. 17, 1878, who 
lliMes at home; James W., born April 4, 1883, who 
is married and lives at Gait; Virgil P., born July 
2, 1886, who is married and lives at Milan; 
Charles C, born May 31, 1889, who lives at home. 

C. A. HAYNES, son of Aaron and Philena 
Haynes, both of whom are dead, was born near 
Grundy Center on the farm on which he now lives. 
He was born Aug. 15, 1872. He was married 
May 6, 1896 to Clara Songer who was born in 
Trenton township, Feb. 3, 1872. They have two 
children; Lester S., born Oct. 16, 1898 and Car- 
roll B., born Jan. 22, 1903. 

Mr. Haynes was born and reared on the farm 
near Grundy Center church and li\'ed there with 
his parents until grown. His mother died in 1895, 
and his father on Dec. 20, 1908, in Trenton. His 
father came from Ohio to Grundy County in 1869, 
and was one of the best known citizens in the coun- 
ty. Mr. Haynes was married soon after his moth- 
er's death and then took charge of the farm. The 
farm belongs to the estate, but is managed by him 
It consists of 240 acres, is well improved and has 
a beautiful home. Mr. Haynes owns 200 acres of 
land on Honey Creek. He does general farming 
and stock raising. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 675 

Mr. and Mrs. Haynes bolh belong to the Metho- 
dist Church. 

J. A. HILDEBRAND was born m Lincoln 
township on a part of the farm he now owns, Nov. 
23, 1872. He is the son of John and Anna Hilde- 
brand, both of whom are living. His father came 
to this county in 1861. Mr. Hildebrand was mar- 
ried March 12, 1896 to Miss Mattie Blanchard, 
daughter of Asa Blanchard of an old Grundy Coun- 
ty family. Fjoth her parents are living. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hildebrand have had two children, one 
of whom is living. Carl Bright, born Dec. 30, 
1 89 1 was drowned while skating on a pond near 
home. Dec. 27. 1908. His cousin, Albert 
Blanchard, was drowned at the same tome. An- 
nie Magretta, was born Sept. 2^, 1900. 

?k:r. Hildebrand lived with his parents on the 
home phce until married. He then bought 100 
acres of his father, and afterwards 50 acres more. 
His firm is well located, a1)0Ut nine miles northeast 
of Trenton. 'Wv. Hildebrand is a Republican in 
politics vyiqX belongs to the T. O. O. F. lodge. He 
and -Mrs. Hilde1:)rand are members of the Christ- 
ian Church and the Rebekah lodge. 

W. H. HILDEBRAND is a son of John ?nd 
Anna Hildebrand. He w;as born Fel). 13, 1866, 
in Lincoln township, Grundy County, Mo. He was 
educated in the public schools. Mr. Hildebrand 
now lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. 

On March 6. 1890, he was married to Louisa M. 
Thee, d-.ughte^- of John Thee. Mrs Hildebrand 



676 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

was born at Havana, Illinois, Sept. ii, 1870. They 
have five children. Edith A., born July 6, 1891 ; 
George G., born April 25, 1896; Clara E., born Feb. 
24, 1898; Erma L., born ^larch 26, kjOO; Edna 
]\T., born July 9, 1905. 

Mr. Hildebrand was born and raised on the old 
home place and lived there with his parents until 
grown. He then went to Illinois where he en- 
gaged in work on a farm until his marriage, when 
he went to farming for himself in Macon County. 
He lived there and farmed until the spring of 1909, 
when he bought the old Hildebrand homestead^ 
where he now lives and moved thereon in March. 
The farm on which he now lives is just northeast 
of Grundy Center and consists of 172 acres well 
improved. 

i\Irs. Hildebrand belongs to the Lutheran 
church. 

S. R. HILL is a son of Philip and Mary Hill, 
both deceased. He was born in Morgan County, 
Ohio, Sept. 24, 1854. He now lives on Route 
two, Trenton, Mo. Mr. Hill was married Oct. 9, 
1879, to Miss Mary Morris, daughter of Richard 
and Sophia Morris, both dead. She was born in 
Morgan County, Ohio, June 8, 1856, and came to 
Grundy County in 1876. 

Mr. Hill came with h{^ parents to Missouri in 
1859. They lived a year on the old Leeper place, 
now owned by J. A. French, near Trenton. They 
afterwards bought and moved to the farm now 
owned by Mr. Hill. The latter lived at home 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 677 

until twenty six years old, then married and went 
to farming for himself. He bought a farm near 
Gait, sold it, and bought the Isaac Elliott farm, 
then bought a tract of land adjoining the home 
place. He afterwards sold out and went to Kan- 
sas where he farmed ten years, then returned to 
the old home farm to care for his parents, inherit- 
ing the farm at their death. He has a well im- 
proved farm and a pretty home. It is located 
ten miles east of Trenton. Both Mr. and IMrs. 
Hill are members of the Baptist Church. 

J. W. INGRAHAM was born in Jones County 
Iowa, Feb. 25, 1863. He lives two and one half 
miles northwest of Gait. Mr.Ingraham and 

Nancy A. Willis were married Feb. 3, 1884. They 
have three children. Alice E. was born June 15, 
1885; Ernest E., Aug. 6, 1886, died Oct. 31, 1889; 
David R., March 29, 1891. Alice was married 
Dec. 25, 1908 to Lester Shinkle of Trenton, Mo. 

Mr. Ingraham went to south Missouri in Feb. 
1884, returning to Grundy County in the following 
September. He lived here until the spring of 1893, 
when he went to Sherman County, Nebraska, re- 
turning in September of the next year and locating 
on a farm eight miles north of Gait, where he re- 
mained until the fall of 7897, when he moved to 
the farm where he novv^ resides. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham and the two children 
that survive are active workers in the M. P. 
Church. Mr. Ingraham is the son of Norman 
and Margaret (Herbert) Ingraham. His father 



«78 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



was born Aug. 14, 1834 in DeKalb County, Indi- 
ana, and died Dec. 13, 1907 at Eagle City, Okla. 
His mother was born Sept. 8, 1835 in Scott Coun- 
ty, Ohio, and died Sept. 21, 1893 at Lou]) City, 
Nebr., Mrs. Ingraham is a daughter of fames H. 
and Hila WilHs; James H. WilHs was born May i, 
1828, near Greeneville, Tenn., and died Oct. 28, 
1902 at Gait, AIo. Hila M. Willis was born May 
II, 1827, near Greenville, Tenn., and died ^larch 
I, 1903 at Gait, Mo. 




RESIDENCE OF BENSON JACKSON. 

BENSON JACKSON, son of James and Jen- 
net Jackson, was born in Dundass County, Canada, 
January 7, 1846. He now lives on route one, 1Ven- 
ton. He was married Nov. 26, 1874, to Miss Jose- 
phine Brynn. daughter of Thomas J. Bryan. They 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 679 

have four children; LilHan, born Nov. 21, 1878; 
Raymond, Oct. 17, 1880; Thomas J., Nov. 2, 1881; 
Gladys, Jmie 19, 1883. 

At the age of sixteen he learned the tinners 
trade and soon had management of a good business. 
In 1866 he came to the United States, settling first 
in Williams County, Ohio, moving to Clinton county 
la., afterwards to Cedar county, and afterwards to 
Dunlap, Ta., where he engaged in the hardware 
business. He also gave a part of his attention to 
farming and for a number of years conducted a 
lumber and grain Inisiness. 

^Tr. Jackson sold out his extensive interests at 
Dunlap and moved to Des Moines in the spring 
of 1893. Here he Iniilt the Iowa brick company 
plant, for the manufacture of paving, and was secre- 
tarv and manager of the company. 

In 1901 he sold out this business and came to 
Grundy county where he bought the Clark and 
Durant farm of six hundred and eighty acres. In 
the spring of 1909 he sold two hundred acres to 
Sam Terry and bought another forty adjoining 
the home place. He also bought the hardware store 
and residence of J. D. Speck of Tindall, Mo; his son, 
Raymond R. Jackson being manager of the store 
and the firm styled B. Jackson and Son. 

Mrs. Jackson was born in Illinois in 1851 but 
spent most of her life in Iowa. She had five brotlv 
ers in the Union Army. Mr. Jackson is a Mason 
of high degree. His ancestors took part in the 
revolutionary war. Their daughter, Gladys, is now 
Mrs. Harry Tibbets, of near Tindall. 



680 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY ' " 

F. J. JONES, son of Jonathan and Sarah 
Jones, was born in Harhn County, Nebraska, Oct. 
8, 1885. He hves on Route six, Trenton, Mo. 
Mr. Jones was married Feb. 21, 1906 to Misi 
Stella Walters. She was born in Fulton County, 
111., April 28, 1884. Her parents both died 
years ago and she came to Grundy County with 
her uncle, John Walters, in 1894. 

Mr. Jones left Illinois, when about twelve years 
old, the family moving to Harrison County, where 
they remained three years. He then came to 
Grundy County and lived several years in Lincoln 
township, buying the Pratt farm. Selling that, 
he leased the George Keene place, known as the 
Sam Humphrey farm. It is a splendid little 
farm of eighty acres. 

Mr. Jones belongs to the Yeoman lodge. His 
wife is a member of the Christian Church. 

JOSEPH KELSO is the son of Hiram and 
Marietta Kelso. His father died Jan. 25, 1899. 
His mother lives with him. He was born on the 
place he now owns, July 3, 1867. He was married 
to Miss Iva M. Carpenter, daughter of Bart and 
Sarah Carpenter, Oct. 13, 1899. She was born 
June 10, 1877, in Lincoln township, between Tin- 
dall and Dunlap 

The land on which Mr. Kelso lives, a mile and a 
half north east of Tindall, was entered by his 
grandfather, Col. Samuel Kelso, one of the coun- 
ty's first pioneers. His father was born and died 
on the farm Mr. Kelso now owns. Mr. Kelso se- 



HISTORY OF GRLtNDY COUNTY 



681 




RESIDENCE OF JOE KELSO. 

cured the old home place before the death of his 
father, and afterwards bought adjoining land. 
The farm consists of a hundred and forty acres. 
He also owns a hundred and sixty acres of land in 
New Mexico. He handles pure bred Percheron 
and Hambletonian horses, Shorthorn cattle, and 
Duroc fersey hogs. He also raises mules and has 
an exceptionally fine jack of imported breeding. 
Mr. Kelso belongs to the M. W. A. and to the I. 
O. O. F. lodges. He and Mrs. Kelso are mem- 
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His 
aunt, Miss Bettie Kelso, makes her home with them. 
His farm is well improved and well kept,. and he 
has an excellent home. 



682 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

WESLEV E. KING is a son of Thomas and 
Louise King, the former of whom died in 1862, and 
the latter in 1898. Mr. King was born in Living- 
ston County, July 8, 1861. He was married Aug. 
19, 1880. to Florence Sutton, wlio died March 11, 
1895. I'^ive children w-ere born to them, three of 
whom -Tc living. Charles, born Feb. 10, 1884, 
lives in Santa Fe, New^ Mexico. Abbie, born Sept. 
27, 1888, is now Mrs. Albert Ricketts, and lives in 
Franklin township; Alcie. born Jan. 22, 1891, 
kee])s house for her father. Two children died in 
infancy. 

j\^r. King was reared on a farm. His father dy- 
ing when he was a baby, his mother moved with 
the family to Grundy County in 1865, buying the 
farm Mr. King now owns the follow^ing year. She 
later sold this place to her son, Francis and bought 
a ])lace near H. A. Sawyer's. Here Mr. King 
lived until 1874, when he went to farming with his 
brother, Francis, buying the farm himself in 1878. 
He has lived there continuously since that time. 
The farm consists of eighty acres of well improved 
land. 

Mr. King belongs to the L O. O. F. lodge. The 
family are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

J. A. LANG, son of J. J. and \'er<3na Lang, 
was born in Delaware County, Iowa, Jan. 21, 1880. 
He was educated in the public and high schools of 
Iowa. He was married Feb. 6, 1901, to Edna 
Mathiessen. They have three children; Leta Lu- 
cile, born Jan. 3, 1902; Anton Lester, and Jacob 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



6sa 



Chester, twins, born Aug. 9, 1904. 

Mr. Lang- lived with his parents on an Iowa farm 
until married. He farmed in Iowa two years, 









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R!-:sii:)i-:nc:f. <;F j. a.lancj 



coriiing to Grundy County in 1903, and buying the 
Hersey place, five and a half miles southeast of 
Trenton, where he has since lived. He owns a 
neatly improved farm of a hundred and twenty- 
acres. 

Mr. Lnng is a Republican in politics. He be- 
longs to the German Reformed Church, his wife ta 
the Methodist Church. She was born in Illinois, 
October 10, 1880. 

FRANK W. LEE, whose parents were AlleiT 
and Marinda Lee, was born in Portage County^ 
Ohio, Sept. 17, 1855. He was married Nov. I2„ 



684 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

1897, to Miss Lulu Banta, daughter of W. S. San- 
ta. Mrs. Lee was born in this county, within a 
mile of her present home. 

M. Lee came to Grundy County with his parents 
in 1865, settling- on the farm he now owns. He 
lived there until grown, then assisted his parents 
in taking care of the farm until their death, after 
which he bought the interest of the other heirs. 
The farm consists of two hundred acres, with ex- 
cellent improvements. Mr. Lee is a stockholder 
and director in the Dunlap Bank. 

Mrs. Lee is a member of the Methodist Church. 

S.A. LAUDERBACK, a son of Allen and 
Rachel Lauderback, was born in Mercer County, 
May 12, i860. He lives on route seven, Trenton. 
Mr. Louderback was married to Amanda C. Mul- 
lins, Sept. 14, 1885. They have four children; 
Oliver D.. born Feb. 6, 1887; Tessie E., Aug. 14, 
1888; Ralph E., March 16, 1890; and Walter E., 
February 7, 1892. 

Mr. Lauderback lived on the old home farm in 
Mercer County until grown and married, when he 
bought a farm in the same county. He moved to 
Harrison county in 1887 and remained two years, 
then returned to Mercer county and remained until 
1905 when he moved to his present farm at Parker- 
ton. He has a well improve:! larm of a hundred and 
fifty-five acres adjoining the town, and a very 
pretty home. 

Mrs. Lauderback was born in Mercer Coun- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 685 

ty, January i8, 1866. She is a daughter of Alfred 

]^.':nnins. 

F. L. LEIN was born in X'ienna, Austria, (3c- 
toler 20, 1872. lie is the son of F. A. Lein and 
Marie ^largaret ( Lyeden frost ) Lein. He was edu- 
cated in the pubhc schools of ^.lissouri. He was 
married December 29, 1896 to Etheleen TindaU, 
born ^lay 18, 1878, daughter of C. H. and Martha 
Tindall. They have four children; Katie Eunice, 
born September 29, 1897; Cecil Ray, born July 10, 
1900: Lawrence Tindall, born September 10, 1905, 
and ]\Iary Lyda, born March 3, 1908. 

Vv. Lein came with his parents to Linneus, ]\Io, 
from Austria in 1879, then went in 1881, to Brook- 
fieVb Mo. In 1883-4, he lived in Argentine, Kan- 
sas, and went to Linn County in 1886. In 1890, he 
canie to Grundy County where he now lives on his 
farm. 

m politics he is a Democrat. 

L. C. LEMLEY was born in Tyler County, 
West Virginia, July 29, 1866. He lives on route 
six, Trenton, J\Io. He was married September 9, 
1889, to OUie Renfro, who died nine years later. He 
was married to Nannie Renfro in October, 1906. 
He has six children, three by his first wife and 
three by the second. 

Those by his first wife are Ethe , born Sept. 
24, 1890; Estelle R., Aug. 16, 1891 : Willa L., Nov. 
16, 1893. Those by his second wife are Susie O., 



«86 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

born Oct. 12, 1902; Grace I., Oct. 8, 1904; Ray R., 
Oct. 30, 1907. 

Mr. Lemley left West Virginia when small, 
coming to Grundy County, where his parents settled 
in the forks of the river. He was married and 
farmed in the forks of the river several years, mov- 
ing to his present two hundred acre farm in 1903. 
Mr. Lemley raises fine horses and mules and good 
cattle. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, at 
Kdinl)urg. 

L. W. LEHEW was born in Allen County, In- 
diana. Oct. 26, it>59; when thirteen years of age he 
came with his parents to Grundy County, Mo., in 
the year 1873 settling on a farm northeast of Tren- 
ton and living there until married, receiving a dis- 
trict school education. He was married to Miss 
Florence Clawson, daughter of James W. Clawson, 
Sept. 28, 1890, moving on the farm he now lives 
on. Mr. and Mrs. LeHew have three children: Jas. 
R., born Oct. 20, 1892; Charles H., born Oct. 14, 
1898 and Edith L., born May 29, 1901. Mr. Le- 
Hew went to farming for himself when twenty-one 
years of age, raising and feeding cattle, hogs, and 
horses in which he has been very successful. Mr. Le- 
He has a nice home of 240 acres and also a farm in 
Texas. Both Mr. and Mrs. LeHew are member?; 
of the Baptist church: the latter was l)orn in Grun- 
<\y county, Dec. 11, 1865. 

E- C. LIGHTNER, son of Peter and Rachel 
Lightner, a pioneer family, was ]:orn in Shelby 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 687 

County, Mo., April 14th, 1859. His education was 
completed at Shelbina College. He lived in- Shelby 
County until 1892, the earlier part of his life on a 
farm, and afterwards in the poultry business at 
Clarence. Mo. In 1892 he moved to Fort Scott, 
Kansas, where he engaged in the same business, 
having interests at Parsons and other points. In 
1896 he moved to Trenton, and since that time has 
conducted a large poultry and produce business 
here, taking charge of the Swift interests in 1899. 

Mr. Lightner is a member of the Presbyterian 
church board, and was to a considerable degree 
instrumental in securing the new Presbyterian 
church building in this city. Since 190(3 he has 
been a member of the board of public works. He 
was one of the directors of the chautau(|ua associa- 
tion since its organization, and is now president. 

Mr. Lightner was married to Miss Ida M. 
Snidon, daughter of Jacob Snidon, of Monroe Coun- 
ty, Feb. 24, 1886. They have one son, Drexel C, 
born August 6th, 1887. He atended the high school 
and the business college at Trenton, and is secretary 
and assistant manager of the poultry business . 

P. S. LONGSTRETH is the son of John W. 
and Deliorah Longstreth, both of whom are dead. 
He was born in Lincoln township, Grundy County, 
Missouri, Jan. 12, 1872. He now lives on route 
six, Trenton, Mo. 

He was married Oct. 16, 1904 to May Keith 
who was born Oct. 20, 1878, in Grundy County. 
They have one child, Ira B., born Dec. 22, 1876, 



688 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

on the old home pb.ce where he has ahvays hved. 
He is unmarried. 

Mr. Longstreth was born and reared on the farm 
where he now hves. His old home is still stand- 
ing. He lived with his parents until grown when 
he went to Oklahoma for a short time. His father 
died when he was twelve years old and he lived at 
home and helped support the family. He went to 
farming for himself and was later married. Soon 
after his marriage, he moved to a house one hall 
mile west of his present home where he lived until 
July 1908 when on account of the illness of his 
mother he moved back to the old home place. The 
home place consists of 130 acres and is owned by 
the heirs. The other place one half mile west con- 
sisting of 120 acres belongs to Mr. Longstreth and 
his brother Ira D., and they also own 80 acres east 
of the home place. They are partners in farming 
and have been since they were boys. There are 
also two other tracts, one of 60 acres and one of 90 
acres belonging to the heirs, on one of which 
farms his sister lives. 

COLLINS McLaughlin, son of Thomas 
and Susan A'IcLaughlin, was born in Knox County 
Ohio, Dec. 10, 1844. When he was one year old, 
his parents moved to southern Indiana, where he 
resided on a farm which his father owned until the 
year 1867. He then traveled through with an ox 
team to Grundy County, Mo. He remained in 
Trenton one year, from there he moved on a farm 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



689 



southeast of Trenton, where he hved eight years. 
He then moved to a farm northwest of Spickard. 
There he was married to Mrs. Sarah A. Monk, a 
widow with four children, Minnie, Dan, AUie and 
Lenna (deceased) ; she died Oct. 17, 1904. Mrs. 
McLaughhn was born in Montezuma, Iowa, April 
2, 1855. Her maiden name was Sarah Angelina 




RESIDENCE OF COLLINS McLAUGHLIN 

Roberts. To this union was born two children, 
both girls; Nellie, born June 3, 1885 ; Rosie, Feb. 26, 
1888, died July 18, 1896. 

In 1892, he bought and moved to what was then 
known as the George Goodknight farm but now 
known as Maple Grove. It is located four mile 
northwest of Trenton or a half mile west of the old 



690 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Titsworth ford. He still lives on the farm and is 
engaged in stock raising and dairy farming. He 
owns a herd of pure bred Jerseys, and is engaged 
in raising good horses, trotters, and pacers. His 
farm is one of the best improved farms in that vi- 
cinity. 

MILES McMULLEN was born in Lancas- 
ter County, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1868. He is 
the son of John McMuUen who lives in Pennsyl- 
vania, and Mary A. McMullen, deceased. He 
now lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. On April 
27, 1894, he was married to Ella Pulliam. She 
was born in Grundy County on the old Pulliam 
place, Aug. 15, 1875. They have had two child- 
ren; Stephen, who died May 18, 1909 and Ollie 
May, born May 5, 1902. 

Mr. McMullen was raised on the farm in Lan- 
caster County, Penn., He lived at home until 
grown. In 1891, he came to Grundy County. 
His brother, Harry had come here two years pre- 
vious and engaged in farming. Miles joined his 
brother here and they farmed together for several 
years. The farm which Mr. McMullen now owns 
was given to him by his father in law, Mr. Pulliam. 
When he and his wife first went to farming there, 
the place was almost barren, but he has made it a 
well improved farm and has one of the finest 
homes in the county. In 1906, they rented the 
farm and went to Colorado on account of Mrs, Mc- 
Mullen's health. In two years they returned 
and have since resided on the farm. He handles 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



691 



Shorthorn cattle, Shropshire sheep and makes a 

specialty of sheep. His farm consists of 120 

acres, seven and a half miles northeast of Trenton. 

The family belongs to the Methodist Church. 




RESIDENCE OF W. O. GARNAND 



HARRY McMULLEN, a son of J. H. and 
Mary McMullen was born in Lancaster County, 
Penn., March 2, i860. He was married March 
4, 1890, to Miss Mary Stehman, daughter of Isaac 
Stehman. Mrs. McMullen was born in the same 
county, Dec. 8, 1863. They have three children; 
John S., born May 26, 1891 ; Henry Lloyd, born 
Aug. 14, 1893; and Miles P., born May 2, 1902. 
Mr. McMullen lived on a Pennsylvania farm un- 
til grown, his father being a railroad conductor 



692 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 

and later a farmer He came to Grundy County 
in 1884, and farmed for a few years, then returned 
to Pennsylvania and married, bringing his wife 
with him to Grundy County. For a number of 
years, he leased the farm which he afterwards 
bought and now owns, it then belonging to Mrs. 
Pelton. He owns a well improved farm of four 
Trenton. 

C. F. MARTIN was born in Iowa, March 11, 
1867. He was married to Miss Susie L. Hartman, 
daughter of C. C. Hartman, Sept. 7, 1892. They 
have four children; Mabel M., born Dec. 20, 1893; 
Myrtle A., July 4, 1896; Ethel L., Jan. 24, 1903; 
Velma I., Aug. 24, 1905. Mrs. Martin was born 
in Daviess County, June 3, 1872, and raised in that 
county. 

Mr. Martin lived in Iowa until 1895 when he 
went to Daviess County, stayed two years, then 
came to Grundy County, living on the A. J. Selsor 
farm for two years, then for two years on the P. Z. 
Delano place. He then leased the George Delano 
farm of a hundred and twenty acres, five and a 
half miles east of Trenton, where he now lives. 

RICHARD J. MARTIN was born in Clinton 
County Mo., Nov. 3rd, 1871. At the age of five 
his parents located at Lathrop, Mo., where he at- 
tended the Lathrop High School after which he 
took a course in a business college. In March, 1888, 
he located at Excelsior Springs where he was em- 
ployed as Assistant Post Master. In November, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



693 



1898 he located in Trenton, Mo., where he was em- 
ployed by the C. R. I. & P. Ry. in the freight de- 
partment until Nov. 1906, when he resigned his 
position as cashier to engage in the transfer busi- 
ness. In July, 1908, he accepted a position as mana- 
ger for the Trenton Ice Co. 

He was elected councilman from the 3rd ward 
in April, 1908. 

J. W. MASON was born in Grundy County, 
Jan. 22, 1866. He lives five miles northeast of La- 
redo. Mr. Mason was married to Mary A. Patter- 
son, November 15, 1891. Mrs. Mason was born 
March 22, 1874. They have four children; Grace 
H., born Jan. ly, 1893; John W., Nov. 11, 1897; 
Glenn T., Sept. 3, 1903; Chester L., Sept. 16, 1906! 
Mr. Mason went from Grundy County in 1894 
to Deepwater, Henry County. ^ He returned to 
Grundy County the next year. He went to Daviess 
County in 1902, returning to Grundy in 1904. Mr. 
Mason is a farmer and stockraiser. He is a son 
of J. C. and Elizabeth (Blew) Mason. He is a 
Republican in politics. 

JOHN R. MERRILL is a son of James R. and 
Mary Merrill. His father died when John R. was 
a small boy, his mother in 1889. Mr. Merrill was 
born Feb. 19, i860 in Trenton, Mo. He was mar- 
ried February 22, 1885, to Cora E. Stewart, daugh- 
ter of Dr. S. Stewart. They have one child, Olive 
Jeanette, born Dec. 3, 1885. 

Mr. Merrill entered mercentile life when 



694 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

young, going to work in a store for R. G. Beasley" 
when thirteen years old and working for him 
three years. Then he worked in a hard- 
ware store two years for Murphy, Asher 
& Co., then for Stein & Sons eleven 
years. At the expiration of this period Mr. Mer- 
rill began work for the firm of Stephens, Hoff- 
man & Co., in 1892. Mr. Stephens retiring, he 
worked with the firm of Hoffman & Co., later be- 
coming a partner in the firm, which is now known 
as the Hoffman-Merrill Mercantile Company, or 
popularly known as the Farmers Store. This store 
is one of the very largest in North Missouri, and 
would be a credit to a city of twenty thousand popu- 
lation. It has separate departments for dry goods, 
men's clothing, shoes, ladies' ready made clothing, 
carpets and draperies, and china. Twenty-five 
people are regularly employed, and the store's trade 
district extends throughout this and into adjoin- 
ing counties. 

James P. Merrill was an old pioneer and a 
prominent citizen. He owned the land on which 
much of the richest part of Trenton now stands. 

H. P. MERRYMAN, son of J. H. and Evaline 
Merryman, was born in Grundy County, near La- 
redo, September 17, 1878. He lives on route three^ 
Trenton, Mo. He was married September 17, 1899, 
to Miss Cora P. Belshe, daughter of Calvin Belshe. 
They have three children; Letha Lela, born Aug- 
ust 14, 1900; Mary Lucile, July 21, 1905; J. C. 
Gilman, February 10, 1909. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



695 



Mr. Merryman lived on the home farm near 
Laredo until grown. When married he moved to 
the two hundred and sixty acre farm which came 
to his wife through her father. He has a well 
stocked, well improved, well managed farm. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Merryman are members of the Chris- 
tian church. 




RESIDENCE OP H. P. MERRYMAN 



W. H. MCMURTRY was born in Illinois, 
March 31, 1856. He is the son of F. M. McMurt- 
ry, born in Illinois, Nov. 16, 1833, and Elizabeth 
(Pitman) McMurtry, born in June 1832. He was 
educated in the public schools of Illinois. 

He was married September 15, 1880 to Louisa 
Leeper, who was a daughter of Hezekiah Leeper, 
born Oct. 13, 1825, and Nancy (Snyder) Leeper, 
born Dec. 18, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. McMurtry have 



696 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

five children; Elsie P., born May 20, 1882; Ethel 
v., born March 19, 1886; E. G., born December 26, 
1887; V. H. born Dec. 3, 1889; and Elizabeth E., 
born March i, 1897. 

Mr. McMurtry moved from Illinois to Iowa, 
where he engaged in farming until 1896. He then 
moved to Ridgeway, Mo., where he lived until 1903. 
In 1903, he moved to Livingston County where he 
lived until 1905, when he moved to Grundy County 
on his fine farm. 

He is a Democrat in politics. 

WILLIAM A. McVAY, a son of James W. 
and Sarah L. McVay, was born in Jones county, la., 
Dec. 20, 1858. He was married to Miss Jennie A. 
Williams, daughter of R. A. Williams, of Spickard, 
Nov. 6, 1885. They have three children; Owen W., 
born June 7, 1887; Donald C, April 16, 1890; and 
James R., June 5, 1893. 

Mr. McVay's parents came from Iowa when 
he was three months old ; lived in Daviess County 2 
years and in Harrison county five years, coming 
to Grundy county and settling near Spickard. Here 
they made their home until the death of James W. 
McVay, in 1904. Mr. McVay lived here on the 
Washington township farm until twenty-seven, 
when he began farming near the home place. He 
then moved to Spickard and bought a mill of P. W. 
Bain, which he kept for a year and a half, then 
sold it and moved to Decatur county, la., where at 
Lamoni he bought three hardware stores, combined 
them, erected a building and stayed a year and a 



698 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 

half when he sold out and moved to the farm he 
now owns, the Grand River Stock Farm, three miles 
north of Trenton. He soon came to Trenton, still 
managing the farm, however, and erected a hard- 
ware, grain and implement building, and conducted 
this business until January i, 1909, when he sold it 
and traded the building for a farm. 

Mr. McVay's farm consists of 1075 acres. He 
handles pure bred Hereford cattle and Percheron 
horses. 

G. F. MACK was born in Grundy County, 
four miles north of Farmersville, Dec. 5, 1865. 
He now lives on route six, Trenton, Mo. His 
parents are James and Alpha Mack. His mother 
has been dead eleven years, his father lives near 
Four Corners. He was married Feb. 27, 1889, to 
Miss Hallie Betz, daughter of Wm. Betz. They 
have two children living, and two, Clyde and Carl, 
twins, born Sept. 22, 1891, are dead. Judson E., 
was born Dec. 13, 1899; Laura M., March 12, 1906. 

Mr. ]\Iack was raised on a farm. When he be- 
gan farming for himself, he leased the Belshe 
place for three years, then the Skinner place for 
the same period. He lived on the Routh place 
for the next eleven years, then bought his present 
farm a mile and a half southwest of Four Corners. 

Mr. Mack's father is one of the county's earliest 
settlers, and is now more than eighty four years 
old. He lives with his son, Otis, near Four Corn- 
ers. Mrs. Mack was born at Akron, Ohio, Oct. 
30, 1868, and came with her parents to Grundy 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 699 

County when small. Mr. Mack is an Odd Fellow. 
A. MANG, son of George and Anna Mang, 
was born December 29, 1875, ^^ Kaues Laudren, 
Germany. He now lives on Route six, Trenton, 
Mo. He was educated in the public schools of 
America. 

He was married September 20, 1899, to Minnie 
B. Fields, who was born July 29, 1877, in Suther- 
land, Iowa. They have four children; Beulah 
M.., born Feb. 18, 1908; Helen Irene, born May 
8, 1903; Lucile L., born August 12, 1905, and 
Herman R., born October 31, 1907. 

Mr. Mang came to America in 1881, directly 
to Grundy County and settled near Spickard, 
where they lived about 11 years. Then they 
went to south Missouri where they lived about 
five years. Mr. Mang then left home and went 
to Iowa w^here he remained about three years, 
marrying while there. He returned to Grundy 
County and leased land for three years. He 
then bought the Schlotterback farm, five and 
three fourths miles north east of Trenton. It 
consists of 41 acres. He also has other land. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mang both belong to the Metho- 
dist church. 

JOHN D. MOORE, son of J. H. and Isabel 
Moore, was born near Spickard, Mo., August 23, 
1878. He was married March 11, 1899, to Miss 
Maude May Welch, daughter of W. B. Welch, of 
Gallatin. They have one child, Eula, born July 20, 
1904. 



700 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Mr. Moore farmed near Spickard until 1904 
when he came to Tindall and worked with his broth- 
er, Charles Moore, who was in the mercantile busi- 
ness there, afterwards, in 1908, May 15, going into 
business himself at Tindall in partnership with his 
brother. They handle a general line of drugs and 
medicines. 




MOORE BROS. STORE, TINDALL, MO. 

W. D. MOORE, son of H. S. and Luthera 
Moore, was born near Dunlap, where he now lives, 
March 14th, 1862. He was married to Eva Bradley 
July 1 6th, 1907. 

Mr. Moore was raised on a farm. During his 
life he has been a farmer and stock raiser and has 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 701 

also been in the lumber business. He owns a 190 
acre farm extending to the borders of Dunlap, and 
has a nice residence property in that town. Mr. 
Moore is an extensive dealer in horses and cattle. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

FRANK D. MURPHY, son of David and 
Susan Murphy, was born in Henry County, Iowa, 
July 30, 1865. He lives on Route one, Trenton, 
Mo. He was married Feb. 4, 1884, to Miss Bettie 
A. Froman, daughter of Thomas Froman. They 
have five children. 

Mr. Murphy's parents came with him to Grundy 
County in 1869, and settled on the place now own- 
ed by J. D. Speck, four miles north of Trenton. He 
lived here with his parents until grown and mar- 
ried, then went to farming for himself, a mile and 
a half east of Tindall. He stayed here five years, 
then rented the home farm, stayed there five years, 
then moved back to the former place, after which 
he bought the Wise farm, two and a fourth miles 
east of Tindall. He bought other land adjoining, 
and now owns a fine farm of a hundred and fifty 
one acres and a beautiful home. He makes a spec- 
ialty of dairy farming. 

]Mr. Murphy is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. 

C. W. NEELY was born in Morgan Coun- 
ty, Ohio, July II, 1867. He moved with his 
parents to Illinois when a small boy, where he 
remained a year. He then came to Grundy Coun- 
ty, where he has spent the greater part of his life. 



702 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



He lived first in the Prairie View neighborhood, 
his father later buying the farm near the Poor 
Farm on which he now lives. Mr. Neely lived at 
home until grown, when he went to farming for 
himself. He farmed near Spickard, then leased 
several places, and finally in 1899 bought the farm 
near Grundy Center on which he now lives. It 
consists of 100 acres of well improved land. In 
the spring of 1907, he went to Oklahoma, where 
he bought a farm which he still owns. In the 
spring of 1909, he returned and took charge of his 
farm here. 




RESIDENCE OF H. S. HALL 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 703 

He was married March 22, 1891 to Laura Smith, 
who died in 1902, leaving one boy, Albert, who 
was born December 30, 1892. On February 28, 
1904, he was married to Miss Carrie Pennell, 
daughter of Abram Pennell. They have no child- 
ren. They are members of the Methodist church. 

C. M. MILLER, son of Humphrey and 
Amelia Miller, was born at Columbus, Indiana, 
March 6th, 1858. His present home is in Trenton, 
Mo. He was married to Minerva Crow, daughter 
of Milton Crow, of Trenton, November 6th, 1878. 

Mr. Miller went with his parents from Colum- 
bus to Des Moines, la., and came from there to 
Trenton in 1877, where he entered the Rock Island 
train service. He was brakeman for a time, then 
conductor, and ran a train from 1878 to 1884, when 
he went to Salt Lake City, where he remained six 
years, after which he returned to Trenton He 
loans money and deals in rental properties. 

O. R. MILLER was born at Mount Ster- 
ling, Illinois, March 25, 1846. He is a son of 
Samuel W. Miller, born in Kentucky in 181 o, 
and died in 1882. His mother, Margaret (Alex- 
ander) Miller was born in Tennessee in 181 5 and 
died in 1884. Mr. Miller lives five miles south 
east of Laredo. He was married November 10, 
1878 to Frances Woods, daughter of C. I. 
and Rebecca (Miller) Woods of Kentucky. Mrs. 
Miller was born in Howard County, December 10 
1850. They have had twelve children, only two 



704 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

of whom are living. They are Margaret B., 
born Nov. 5, 1872, and Charles B., born Sept. 9, 
1882. 

Mr. Miller came to Missouri in March 1867. 
He was a plasterer by trade and worked in Linne- 
us and Trenton. He still does plastering in ad- 
dition to managing his farm, which he has owned 
for several years. Mr. Miller embarked in the 
drug business in Alpha in 1880 and was in that 
business four years; selling his store, he has since 
given his attention to farming and plastering 
He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Lodge No. 
253 at Laredo. 



ALBERT MOORE is a son of Manford and 
Martha Moore. His farhpr lives near Hickory. 
His mother died in 1887. Mr. Moore was born 
in Wilson township, AprH [i, 1877. He was mar- 
ried April 8, 1903, to Norma Hinkley. They have 
one child, Lynn, born Ja". 4. 1907. Another, born 
ho /n i/'eb. 8, 190.]., dicci in infancy. Mr. M:*0Te 
started out for himself, working as a farm hand 
for several years. He bought his present farm in 
1908. Previous to that he had leased land for a 
number of years. 

Mrs, Moore is a native of Grundy County, being 
born in Marion township, Jan. 22, 1874. She is 
a daughter of J. B. Hinkley who died in 1902. 
Her mother is yet living. Mr. Hinkley came to 
this county in 1886. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 70a' 

HENRY NEELY was born in Morgan Coun- 
ty, Ohio, July 6, 1838. He now lives on route six, 
Trenton, Mo. Mr. Neely was married to Carolin 
Eilkil, of Ohio, April 14, 1859. They have three 
children; Wm. H., born July 22, 1862, now rail- 
roading at Sedalia; C. W., born July 11, 1867, and 
Elizabeth May, born September 13, 1874, now Mrs. 
Joseph Phillips. 

Mr. Neely lived on an Ohio farm until 1874, 
when he was in Illinois a year, coming to Grundy 
County in 1875. He settled four miles north of 
Trenton, lived there three years, and bought his 
present place in 1882. Mr. Neely's farm is well 
stocked with small fruit and he has a very large 
orchard, the care of which takes the greater part 
of his attention. Thirty acres of his forty acre 
farm is in fruit. 

In the Civil War Mr. Neely served in the 84th 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting in July, 1862. 
He was shot through the ear at Beverly, West Vir- 
ginia, while in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson. Mr. 
and Mrs. Neely are members of the Methodist 
church. He also belongs to the I. O. O. E. 

GRENVILLE G. OWEN, son of G. B. and 
Susan Owen, was born in Grundy County near 
his present home August 15, 1855. He was mar- 
ried to Sarah V. Overton, of Wilson township, in 
April 1877. They have three children: John 
Everett was born March 22, 1883; Coral Verne, 
born May 4, 1888; Ethel Dora, born May 15, 1893. 
Coral Verne is the wife of R. R. Wirt, and lives 
on the old home place. 



706 !'■" HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Owens lived on a farm until several years 
after his marriage. In 1894 he went to Trenton 
and was engaged in the livery and grocery busi- 
ness for six years, when he returned to the farm 
and stayed about four years. He then came to 
l^aredo, in 1904, and went into the shipping busi- 
ness. He handles grain of all kinds. John Owen, 
who is associated with his father in the grain busi- 
ness, was married to Olive Belshe March 6, 1904. 

Mr. Owen is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and 
a member of the Baptist church. He still owns his 
three hundred and twenty acre farm north of 
Laredo. 

WILLIAM E. OWENS was born in Wilson 
township, Sept. 6, 1866. He lives four miles 
southeast of Laredo. He is a son of David and 
Anna (Yates) Owens. His father was born in 
Kentucky, Feb. 29, 1838; his mother was born 
Aug. 31, 1832. Mr. Owen was married to Miss 
Amanda C. Pentse, daughter of Lemuel and Ada- 
line (Miller) Pentse Sept. 12, 1886. They have 
three children; Lloyd, born July 2, 1889; Josie L., 
Sept. 12, 1897; Troy M., Feb. 14, 1903. 

Mr. Owens began farming south of Alpha soon 
after his marriage. In 1890, he moved to Alpha 
and in 1901 to Blaine C ounty, Okla. Returning to 
Missouri in 1903, he moved to the farm south of 
Laredo where he has since lived. Mr. Owens is 
a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



707 




RESIDENCE OF H. B. PATRICK. 

H. B. PATRICK is the son of Harmon and 
Matilda Patrick. His father died five years ago. 
His mother died when he was three years old. He 
was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, October 29, 
1856. He was married February 9, 1877 to Miss 
Jennie Farmer, daughter of James Farmer de- 
ceased. Mrs. Patrick was born November 5, i86c 
in Monroe County, Iowa. They have three child- 
ren living and one dead. William E., was born 
Nov. 25, 1877, is married and lives in Ringgold 
County, Iowa. Charles, born March 25, 1882, is 
also married and lives in the same county. Mabel 
C, born Nov. 3, 1884, lives at home. 

Mr. Patrick lived on a farm with his father un- 
til married when he began farming for himself. 
His father gave him 40 acres and he bought ad- 



708 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

joining land. He lived in the same township in 
Ringgold County until March 1908, when he came 
to Grundy County, buying the J. S. Leisure farm 
on Route six near Grundy Center where he now 
lives. He has a well kept farm of eighty seven 
and one half acres and a good home. He was 
township trustee for a number of years in Iowa. 

HENRY M. PATTERSON was born at Hod- 
genville, Kentucky, April 28, 1866. He was mar- 
ried to Cordia A. Anderson, daughter of James T. 
Anderson at Chillicothe, Mo., April 2y. 1902. They 
have had four children, two of whom are living. 

Mr. Patterson lived in Kentucky until eight- 
een years old when he moved with his parents to 
Linn County, Mo. After some time spent on a 
farm he went into the mercantile business at Faul- 
ker, Mo. Here he remained two years and re- 
ceived the appointment of post master of that place. 
Selling out, he worked in the Meadville post office 
with his brother for four years when he entered 
the drug business at Ludlow, Mo., and remained 
a year. He then returned to Meadville and estab- 
lished a local telephone system which he sold out in 
1908 and moved to Laredo, Mo., where he embark- 
ed in the furniture business in which he is engaged 
at the present time. In connection with this he 
does the business of undertaker and embalmer. 

Mr. Patterson is a member of the K. of P.. M. 
W. A. and Eagles. Both he and Mrs. Patterson 
are members of the Baptist church. 

JAMES B. PATTON, son of B. M. Patton 
and Parmelie Baxter Patton, both of whom are 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



ro9 




RESIDENCE OF J. B. PATTON. 



dead, was born January 3, 1870 in Grundy County, 
Missouri. He now lives near Trenton, Mo. 

On February 28, 1895, he was married to Em- 
ma L. Patterson, daughter of Robert and Mary 
Patterson, deceased. Mrs. Patton is a native of 
Ohio, born near Mansfield. She came to Missouri 
in 1894. She had lived all her life on one farm 
near Mansfield. She attended the public schools 
in Mansfield, Ohio. They were married soon 
after she came to Missouri. 

Mr. Patton was born and reared on the farm he 
now owns, and has not been off of it to exceed six 
montiis at any one time. His father died when he 
was about fourteen years old and he stayed at home 
and helped to run the farm and support his mother, 
who lived with him almost all of the time until her 



710 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

death, Jan. 8, 1908. Mr. Patten's farm which is 
a part of the old home place, consists of 100 acres, 
he purchasing the interest of the other heirs. He 
also own 30 acres on Honey Creek. The place 
is well improved and he has a beautiful and 
well furnished home. Mr. Patton is a Mason. 
Mrs. Patton is a member of the Methodist church. 
The land owned by Mr. Patton was entered by his 
father and has never passed out of the family, only 
one transfer having been made and that to the child- 
ren. The family is one of the oldest and l)est 
known in North Missouri. 

ABRAM PENNELL, son of Edward and 
Susan Pennell, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, 
April 20, 1841. He was married to Eliza J. 
W'eeden of the same county, September 7, 1865. 
She was l)orn June 13, 1839. They have four 
children; Carrie, born Dec. 8, 1866, now Mrs. Chas. 
Neely; Frank, born Feb. 13, 1868, lives in Franklin 
County, Kansas. George E., Sept. i, 1870; Charles 
A., Sept. 14, 1873, the Trenton photographer. 

"Wr. Pennell lived at Malta, Ohio where his father 
worked at the wagon maker's trade until he was 
eighteen years old. They then moved to the coun- 
trv, his father buying a farm. He lived there with 
his father until 1865, except the time he was in the 
army. At the close of the war he returned home, 
married and w^ent to farming for himself. He 
lived there until 1870, when he emigrated to Missou- 
ri, settling in (^rundv County. In 1878, he bought 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



711 



his present farm, six miles northeast of Trenton 
where he has since Hved. His farm consists of 120 
acres on the home place also 10 acres just north of 
the home place, 130 acres in all. The farm is well 
improved. 





E. G. PENNELL'S RESIDENCE AND BARN. 



712 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

EDWARD GRANT PENNELL is a son of 
Edward and Susan Pennell, both deceased. He 
was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 14, 1866. 
He was married February 20, 1890 to Miss Bettie 
Patton, daughter of B. M. Patton. They have four 
children. Edna Cleo was born Dec. 29, 1890; Ray 
Patton, May 2y, 1892; Harley Hubert, January 17, 
1898; James Grant, Dec. 17, 1897. Mrs. Pennell 
was born near Grundy Center, Nov. 24, 1872. The 
farm on which they now live is a part of the old Pat- 
ton place. 

Mr. Pennell came to Grundy County, AIo., in 
1876, his father buying a farm just north of Grundy 
Center. His father died in 1881, his mother in 
1894. He lived at the old home until his mother's 
death, after which he moved to his present home, 
a part of which Mrs. Pennell inherited and a part 
^f which was later bought of the other heirs. Mr. 
Pennell has 80 acres in this farm and 30 acres near 
the old home place. The family belongs to the 
]\lethodist church. 

D. E. PHILLIPS is a son of L. C. and Mary 
Phillips of Washington, D. C. He was born Feb- 
ruary 18, 1874, in Montgomery County, Maryland, 
and now lives on route three, Trenton, Mo. He 
was married to Mattie E. Hupp, daughter of John 
C. Hupp, January 28, 1899. They have one child, 
Margaret A., born March 22, 1900. 

Mr. Phillips moved with his parents to Lees- 
burg, Va.,. when small and lived there until nine- 
teen years old, his father being an officer in the 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 



ri3 



pension department at Washington, D. C. He 
joined the jth U. S. cavalry, Custer's old regiment 
when nineteen years old and spent a year in Texas 
and was in Arizona, New ^Mexico and Colorado 
five years including the Indian campaign of 1896. 
He served four years as sergeant and was in 
charge of a recruiting office in Denver. Colo., dur- 
ing the Spanish war. 

He went into the grocery business in Fairfield, 
la., in 1898 and remained there until 1903, when 
he moved to Jackson County, ]\Io., and went to 
farming. He came to Grundy County in the spring 
of 1906 and bought the old A. J. Selsor place. 




RESIDENCE OF W. R. 



lAM. 



WILLIAM R. PULLIAM, son of Stephen 
and Mary Pulliam was born in Grundy County on 
the place now owned by Miles McMullen, October 



714 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

i8. iSoi. lie now lives on Route six, Trenton. 
AIo. He is not married. 

Mr. Pnlliam has always lived on the old Pulliam 
homestead, where he took care of his father 
and mother nntil the death of the former at the age 
of 84. He was given one hundred acres of land, 
bought two hundred of his father, and one hundred 
and forty of the heirs of the estate. 

Mr Pulliam's cousin, Salli j Cunningham, is his 
liouse keeper. His brother. James V., who is 
paralyzed, lives with him. He has 80 acres in the 
neighborhood and two other tracts, one of 85 and 
one of 40 making 205 in all. 

J. N. RENFRO was born in Grundy County, 
Harrison township on April 3, 1882. He is the 
son of Sid Renfro, deceased and Mary J. Masters 
Renfro. He now lives on Route 7, Trenton. He 
was married to Alice Kerns, Dec. 6, 1900. They 
have four children; Hattie, born Sept. 21, 1901 ; 
Rosa, Oct. 9, 1904; Myrtle T., born Oct. 11, 1906; 
Lola, born Oct. 22, 1907. Mrs. Renfro was born 
in Buchanan County, Aug. 13, 1881. 

Mr. Renfro was born and reared on a farm in 
Harrison township. He lived there with his par- 
ents until grown and married and then moved to 
his present farm which his father owns. It is 
four miles northwest of Trenton and consists of 
509 acres, one of the best farms in the county. He 
does general farming and stock raising. The 
family belongs to the Baptist Church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 715 

DANIEL RIDDLE, son of James B. and Ma- 
tilda Riddle, was born in Clark County, Indiana, 
Sept. 1 6, 1862. He was married to Mamie Joiner 
April 3, 1887. 

Mr. Riddle left Indiana with his parents when 
three years old, going to Southern Iowa where he 
lived near the Missouri line until twenty-one. He 
then went to Nebraska, then to Grundy County and 
larmed near Spickards, moving to Tindall, his pres- 
ent home in 1897, where he went into the mercan- 
tile business. This business he sold out the next 
year, and went into the real estate business which 
he now follows. He has been at various times jus- 
tice of the peace, constable and collector of his town 
ship. 

JOSEPH T. RINKER was born in Wilson 
township, Grundy County, March 20, 1871. He 
lives three miles southeast of Laredo. Mr. Rink- 
er's father, J. H. Rinker, was born in Indiana, Nov. 
27, 1836. His mother, Anna (Bell) Rinker, was 
born in Vermillion County, Illinois, Dec. 31, 1837. 
Mr. Rinker was married Sept. 23, 1896, to Miss 
Ida Banta, daughter of Charles and Mary (Met- 
calf) Banta. Mr. Banta was born in Montgom- 
ery County, Indiana, Sept. 12, 1854, and died July 
20, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Rinker have two child- 
ren; Charles Vern, born Dec. 31, 1897, and Kath- 
ryn, born Jan. 25, 1903. 

After completing the common school course, Mr. 
Rinker attended the Chillicothe Normal, after 
which he taught two years in this county. He 



716 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

then went into the hvery business in Laredo, re- 
maining two years, and since that time has devoted 
his attention to agriculture and stock raising. He 
is a RepubHcan. 

L. M. ROBERTSON, whose parents were W. 
H. and Louisa Robertson, was born on the old Rob- 
ertson homestead a half mile south of Laredo, Oct. 
7, 1869. He was married Jan. 5, 1896, to Miss 
Anna Gregg, daughter of George and Augusta 
Gregg. They have two children; Charles B., born 
July 14, 1897; and Edna F., Feb. 10, 1905. They 
had one child, born Feb. 12, 1900, died in infancy. 

Mr. Robertson lived on his father's farm near 
che present limits of Laredo until married, for two 
years before his marriage running a farm near his 
father's. When married, he bought the Alexan- 
der farm four miles north of Laredo, which farm 
he owned and managed for six years. Selling it 
he moved to a farm near Dunlap where he lived 
seven years, then in 1908 bought his present one 
hundred and sixty acre farm, three miles north of 
Laredo. Mr. Robertson is a breeder of pure bred 
Duroc Jersey hogs. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are members of the Bap- 
tist Church. Mrs. Robertson was born in Schuy- 
ler County, 111., Dec. 26, 1872, and came with her 
parents to Grundy County in 1888. 

J. M. REAM, son of John and Elizabeth Ream, 
was born near the Ream school house, Grundy 
County, Jan. 18, 1869. He was married Feb. 26, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 717 

1891, to JNIiss Anna Lehew, daughter of U. F. and 
Sarah Lehew. They have two children; Grace T., 
born Dec. 24, 1892, and Cecil B., born Sept. 5, 19CO. 
Mrs. Ream was born in Indiana, August 4, 1868. 
She is a member of the Baptist Church. 

jMr. Ream lived on the old home place with his 
parents until married, tie began farming for him- 
self on a place near by, now owned by B. T. Ream, 
his brother. He lived on the Lemley farm a short 
time, then moved to Hickory County, I\Io., where 
he remained two years, returning to Grundy and 
buying his present farm in 1905. It is an excellent 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres, lying six 
miles east of Trenton. 

A. E. ROOKS was born in Grundy County, 
March 10, 1866. He lives in the southern part of 
Wilson township, not far from the Livingston 
County line. Mr. Rooks was married Nov. 16, 
1893 to Lenora B. Nichols. They have five child- 
ren; Thomas L., was born Oct. 19, 1894; Archie 
E., Sept. 16, 1896; Frederick R., March 4, 1898; 
Jessie May, April 7, 1902, and Russell, May 9, 
1906. Mrs. Rooks was born April 21, 1879. 

When Mr. Rooks was eight years old, he went 
with his father to Indiana, where the family stayed 
four years, returning to St. Clair County, Mo. 
When he was eighteen, he went to Kansas with his 
father, remained a year, and spent the next seven 
years in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, and Io- 
wa, returning to Grundy County at the age of 
twentv seven. He has lived here since that time, 



718 HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 

except for three years. Mr. Rooks does general 
larming and stock raising and is especially inter- 
ested in the mule business. He is widely known 
in this county as a trader. 

Mr. Rooks is a son of P. J. and Serena (Ishmael) 
Rooks, both natives of Indiana. He is a Republi- 
can in politics. 

J. F. ROSS, son of Henry and Jane Ross, was 
born in Hancock County, Illinois, July 15, 1848. 
Both of liis parents died when he was a small boy. 
PTe now lives on Route six, Trenton, Missouri. 

He was married Feb. 20, 1871, to Helena J. Pat- 
ten, who was born near Grundy Center, April 2}^, 
185.5. '^f^- ^^-^^ Mrs. Ross have had thirteen 
children, ten of whom are living. The children are 
Charles, born FeVj. 22, 1872, who is married and 
lives in Oklahoma; James A., born April 22, 1873, 
who lives in CaliTornia ; \Vm. H., born Jan. 29, 
1875, who died Feb. 25, 1880: Ernest E., born Jan. 
12, 1877. who \o married and lives in Oklahoma; 
Bartley M., born April 12, 1878, who is married 
and lives in Trenton: Everett, born April 4, 1880, 
who is married atid lives in Texas; John F., born 
Oct. 13, 188 [, who is now living in Texas; Ila M., 
born April 14, 1884, who died Dec. i, 1901 ; Ima 
R., born Dec. 23, 1885, who lives at home; Otto A., 
born June 29, 1887, who died Oct. 2, 1890; Mary 
and Man ford, twin boy and girl, born Nov. 30. 
1890, who live at home, and Eva P., born Dec. 17, 
1892. 

Mr. Rosf lived in Illinois until he was fifteen, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 719 

then he came to Grundy County with his brother- 
in-law, James Clawson. He hved with his broth- 
er-in-law for a short time and with E. L. Winters 
for a year, when he joined tlie Union army and 
served until the close of the war. When he re- 
turned from ihe w.'.r. lie made his home with Mr. 
W^inters until 1869, when he went to farming for 
himself. Two years later he was married. Prior 
to his marriage, he bought a farm near Gait, which 
he owned for a short time. He leased the farm 
for a few years, then he and his sister bought a 
farm where John Shelton now lives. He sold that 
leased again for a few years, then moved to his 
present farm which came to his wife from the Pat- 
ton estate in 1894, where he has since lived. Mr. 
Ross is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. 

DAN SANDLIN was born in Grundy Coun- 
ty, Dec. 22, 1874. He was the son of Robert S. 
and Martha J. Sandlin both of whom live near Mo- 
dena. Mr. Sandlin now lives on Route 7, Tren- 
ton. He was married Feb. 17, 1896 to Emma 
Hubbard, daughter of J. E. Hubbard. They have 
four children. Mrs. Sandlin was born in Mercer 
county, near Modena, Jan. 12, 1876. The child- 
ren are: Osie Mabel, born Aug. 13, 1896; Cleo 
Loyd, June 10, 1898; James R., Feb. 22, 1901 ; Al- 
lie M., Oct. 18, 1905. 

Mr. Sandlin was born and reared on a farm in 
this county, near Modena and lived with his par- 
ents in that section until twenty seven years old. 
He then married and went to farming for himself. 



720 HISTORY OP GRUIsDY COUNTY 

He fanned for four years on his father's place^ 
then north of i\Jodena for two years, then west of 
Modena and remained seven years, then leased the 
Arthur Oyler farm near Parkerton. It consists 
of 150 acres. He does general farming. 

HENRY H. SAWYER, son of Jacob and 
Hannah Sawyer was born in Ohio, Nov. 30, 1840. 
He was married March 31, 1868 to Miss Macedonia 
Cochran, daughter of Wm. Cochran. Mrs. Saw- 
yer was born in Dec. 17, 1850. Her father came 
to this country in the thirty's. They have nine 
children living, and three dead. Mary J., born 
Jan. 6, 1869, riow Mrs. Marion Campbell of Wash- 
ington; C. C, l]orn April 22, 1871, of Oilman; 
Edward N., Dec. 29, 1873, in Washington; Semira 
H., Jan. 29. 1876, married Mock Ellis, died May 3, 
1900: Thomas J., born July 23, 1879; Cora J., born 
March 20, 1881, now Mrs. Dale Walker; Arthur, 
born May 2^. 1884, died July 5, 1884; Florence 
Rosella, born July 24, 1885. now Mrs. Guy Russell, 
of Trenton; Frank, born Feb. 8, 1887, lived a 
month; Daisy, born Jan. 16, 1889, now Mrs. Roy 
Daniels; Hugh P.. born Jan. 4, 1892; Norris, May 
2. 1894. 

IN'^r. Sawyer en me to Grundy County with his 
parents in 1855, settling near what is now the 
Grundv County Fair Grounds. They bought 

what was called the Jewett Norris farm, where Mr. 
Sawyer lived until he married, except during the 
war. He served in Co. C. i8th. Mo. Volunteers, 
from Sept. 1861 until the close of the war. He 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 721 

was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and took 
part in many fierce engagements, including 
among others, Shiloh, Corinth, Miss., luka and 
Chattanooga. After the war, Mr. Sawyer re- 
turned home, married, and for several years ran 
a saw mill and grist mill near Trenton. He then 
went to farming northwest of Trenton, owning 
the farm where the water works now stands. He 
lived for a time also on a farm twelve miles north 
of Trenton. He then bought his present farm of 
a hundred acres, eight miles northeast of Trenton. 

W. H. SCHLOTTERBACK, son of George 
W. Schlotterback, who lives with his son, Levi, and 
Evaline Schlotterback, deceased, was born at Tren- 
ton, Mo., June 26, 1865. He now lives on Route 
six, Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 5, 1886 
to Eva E. Wohler, who died in June 1889. They 
had no children. On April 24, 1901, he was mar- 
ried to Martha L. Luke, daughter of Thomas Luke. 
They have no children. 

Mr. Schlotterback lived in Trenton until he was 
twelve years old, when he went with his parents to 
a farm southeast of Trenton. He lived there for 
several years. When he was married he went 
to farming for himself. He has lived on several 
places in the county. In 1902, he leased the 
Brown Stewart place and has lived there since. 
His farm consists of 80 acres and is a well im- 
proved farm. 

Mrs. Schlotterback is a native of Grundv Coun- 



722 HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 

ty, born near the County Farm. She is aniember of 
the Methodist church. 

PERRY SCHOOLER, son of Abram and 
Rachel (King) Schooler, was born in Mercer 
county, five miles north of Spickard September i8, 
1853. He was married to Cornelia Cornwell, August 
30, 1874. They have one child, CharlesE., born 
September 24, 1875. 
' Mr. Schooler's father died in 1862, leaving a 
large family. Mr. Schooler came to Spickard in 
1874, and worked in various capacities until 1881, 
when he became section foreman on the Rock Is- 
land, working in this capacity for ten years. In 
1 89 1 he went into the furniture and undertaking 
business, which he has followed to the present time. 
"^Te has built up a big store and a big business. 

Mr. Schooler is one of the leading Odd Fel 
lows of the state, and is unexcelled as a drillmaster 
in that order. He is one of the principal business 
men of Spickard. In politics he is a Republican. 

J. H. SHELTON was born in Hardin Coun- 
ty, 111., Jan. 15, 1840. He lives on Route six, 
Trenton, Mo. He was married Feb. 27, 1873 to 
Miss Emma Ross, daughter of Henry Ross. She 
was born in Scott County, 111., in July, 1845, and 
came to Grundy County in the fall of 1863. Her 
parents died when she was small. Mr. and Mrs. 
Shelton have three children. P. W., born Dec. 
29, 1873, lives in Blaine County, Oklahoma; Ber- 
tha B., born Sept. 27, 1875, now Mrs. J. H. Rains, 
of Ford County, Kansas; Stella B., born Aug. 4, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 723 

1878, is now Mrs. Arthur Yambert of this county. 
When a boy, Mr. Shehon moved with his par- 
ents to low^a. He ran away from home when 
fourteen, going to his aunt's in IlHnois not far 
'from Galesburg, and has made his own way since 
that time. At the outbreak of the war, he joined 
Co. L., 9th in., serving four years and four days. 
He then went to the home of his father in Iowa, 
where he stayed a few years, then went to Kansas, 
and in a short time, in the fah of 1871, came to 
Grundy County. After his marriage, in the spring 
of 1873, he moved to his wife's farm, where they 
have hved since. The farm is located eight miles 
northeast of Trenton and contains eighty acres of 
well improved land. 

HIRAM T. SHERROW, son of Lorenzo D. 
and Mary E. Sherrow, deceased, was born on the 
farm where he now lives, eight and a half miles 
south east of Trenton, June 10, 1854. His par- 
ents came to this county at a very early date. He 
was married to Miss Armetta Beckner, daughter 
of Andrew Beckner, April 26, 1874. Mrs. Sher- 
row was born Sept. 26, 1858, on a farm adjoining 
where she now lives. The Beckner family are al- 
so nmon-i^- the earliest settlers of Grundy County. 

Mr. Sherrow lived on the farm with his parents 
until nearly twenty one, when he married and went 
to farming on the home place. The place then 
consisted of eighty acres, which he inherited on the 
death of his parents. He later bought a hundred 



[IISIORY Cr GRUXDV ^OUXTY 




RESIDENCE OF HIRAM T SHERROW. 

and forty acres adjoining. He has a well improv- 
ed farm and a good home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sherrow have seven children; 
Lizzie Bell, born Sept. 7, 1875, now A/[rs. J. H. 
Coffman; John H., May 10, 1878, lives near his 
parents; Clara Ethel, June 12, 1884, now Mrs. G. 
A. Benson of Alta, Iowa; Vada Esther, Dec. 14, 
1886, r' Kansas City; Leroy, born April i, 1892; 
Lennie E., June 30, 1895; Paul, Dec. 14, 1898, 
lives at home. 



GEORGE B. SIMONS was born at Fairfield, 
la., December 9, 1872, where he attended the public 
schools and Parsons College. He w^as married to 

]\Tamie Lowry, of Trenton, ^Tarch 2^,, 1897. They 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 725 

have two children; Bernard Witten, born July 15, 
1899, and Tad A., January 29, 1902. 

Mr. Simons was in the employ of the railroad 
running out of Galesburg, 111., for a time after leav- 
ing Fairfield, and then ran a bottling works 
establishment at that place. He left there 
in 1893, coming to Trenton where he 
bought out Henry Shaffer, and has been in the 
bottling business since that time, manufacturing all 
kinds of soft drinks. He is a director in the Far- 
mers Exchange Bank, and of the coal company, and 
is interested in other business establishments. 

SOLOMON SKAGGS, son of Wesley and 
Elizabeth Skaggs, was born in Davis County, In- 
diana, October 2nd, 1839. He lives on route two, 
Trenton. Mr. Skaggs was married Jan. 8, 1874, 
to Maria E. Baker, daughte.r of Martin Baker. 
They have one child living and two dead. Frank 
B., was born Sept. 17, 1883. He was married to 
Miss Etta Clinginsmith, Dec. 23, 1908, and lives 
with his father. Wm. B., was born June 20, 1876^ 
died August 23, 1877; Lula, born Sept. 13, 1880, 
died Aug. 10, 1888. 

]\Ir. Skagg's mother died when he was small, 
and his father afterwards married again. The 
family came from Indiana to Grundy County in 
1853, settling on the farm now owned by Solomon 
Sherrow. He lived with his father until grown, 
when he bought the farm he now owns, within a 
mile of his father's old farm. Here he kept bach- 
elor's hall for tv/o years, and was then married. 



T2G 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 





RESIDENCE OF SOLOMON SKAGGS. 

The farm contains two hundred and forty acres 
and is well improved. 

At the outbreak of the war Mr. Skaggs joined 
Co. B., 23rd., Missouri and served over three 
years. He was in the battle of Shiloh, and the 
siege of Atlanta. He was captured at Shiloh and 
spent six months in prison in Macon, Ga., and 
Montgomery, Ala., He is a member of the R. P. 
Carnes Post, G. A. R. at Dunlap. Mr. Skaggs is 
a stockholder in the Dunlap Bank, and in the Citi- 
zens Bank, at Laredo. 



B. F. SMITH is a son of Oliver and Ruth 
Smith. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, 
March 2, 1850, and now lives on route three, Tren- 
ton, Mo. Mr. Smith was married to Dora Combs, 
daughter of J. B. Combs, October 6, 1890. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



727 




RESIDENCE OF B. F. SMITH. 



He left Ohio with his parents in 1864 and mov- 
ed to Grnndy County about three miles east of his 
present home, and lived here until the year after 
his marriage. He bought his present farm in 1894, 
and has lived on it since that time. He has a well 
improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres, 
and is a breeder of pure bred short horn cattle. 
Mrs. Smith is a fancier of Buff Rock chickens. Mr. 
Smith belongs to the I. O. O. F. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of eight 
children. Everett Reed, was born May 4, 1892; 
Juanita Belle, December 8th, 1893, died June 2, 
1894; Sarah Ethel and Edith Ruth, November 14, 
1895; Herschel William, April 5, 1897; John 
Oliver, July 7th, 1898; Myrtle Mauree, October 4, 
1901 ; and Frankie Adora, August 21st, 1904. 



728 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

DR. EDWARD H. STECKMAN was born 
at Everett, known as Bloody Run, Penn., Jan. 14, 
1854. He left that state with his parents when a 
boy moving to Brown County, 111., and in 1871 to 
Grundy County, Mo., where his parents spent the 
remainder of their lives. Dr. Steckman attended 
the schools of Illinois and the Trenton High Scl^ool 
also taking a course in the Warren sburg State Nor- 
mal. He then taught a short time after which, 
he took a degree in the College of Dental Sur- 
gery, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1880. He 
then came to Trenton, and has since successfully 
followed the practice of his profession. He is ?, 
stockholder in the ice company, owns an interest in 
the Farmers Exchange Bank, and has seven hun- 
dred and fifty acres of Grundy County land, lying 
in three farms, one of which he is personally con- 
ducting and the other two of which he is leasing. 
Dr. Steckman was married in 18^6 to ]\Iiss Mary 
Ella McCarty, of Smyth County, Virginia. She died 
March 12, 1890. He was again married, Jan. 
16, 1894, to Miss Sarah Mitchell, a daughter of a 
well known Bancroft family. They ha\^e one child, 
Mary Ella, born Sept. 30, 1899. 

JOHN S. STEVENS was born in Richland 
County, Ohio, in 1842. He attended the schools of 
that state and was for a time a student in Adrian 
College, Michigan. He lived on a farm until nine- 
teen, when he enlisted in the Union army, joining 
Company A., 67th Ohio Inf., in which company he 
remained until the close of the war. He was with 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 729 

the Union army on the attempt to enter Charleston, 
and was wounded by the bursting of a shell in the 
battle of Morris Island. He was with Ben Butler 
at the investment of Richmond, and took part in the 
battles around that city and was at Lee's surrender. 

At the close of the war, Mr. Stevens returned to 
Ohio and was deputy county recorder, later at- 
tending college. He came west in 1867, landing at 
Maysville, Mo., where he lived seventeen years. 
He was for twelve years a judge of the probate 
court of De Kalb County, and was engaged in the 
newspaper business. Later he went to Winston 
wdiere he engaged in banking for 16 years. During 
this time he established a bank at Altamont. 
These banks were later sold, and he was for a time 
at the head of the Clay County Bank, at Excelsior 
Springs, I\:^o. In 1903 he came to Tro-ton, and 
was cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank, re- 
tiring on the consolidation of that institution with 
the American Bank. 

He was married December 18, 1870, to Miss 
Bettie E. Burch, who died Aug. 22, 1904. 

A. C. STORMS is the son of S. H. and Jane 
Storms. His mother has been dead ten years, his 
father died in 1908. Mr. A. C. Storms was born 
in La Porte, Indiana, September 28, i860. He was 
educated in the public schools. He was married 
March 10, 1884, to Anna Chester, daughter of Wil- 
liam Chester. They have five children: Roy L., 
born February ist, 1885 ; Ray C, born July 23, 1886, 
now in the jewelry business in Pleasonton, Kans. ; 



730 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Arthur W, born July 8, 1888; Kate C, born Feb- 
ruary 12, 1891 ; Walter R., born July 4, 1897. 

Mr. Storms left Indiana with his parents when 
six years old and moved to Mercer county, Mo., 
and lived on a farm for a short time later moving 
to Ravanna, Mo., where the father engaged in the 
trade of wagon maker for many years. In 1881 Mr. 
Storms, jr., began work as clerk in the drug busi- 
ness of Dr. Shipley of Ravanna, clerking for about 
five years when he bought a half interest in the 
drug stock with Dr. Shipley and remained in that 
business for six years. He then sold out his interest 
and in 1891 bought a drug store in Laredo, Mo., 
where he now lives and carries on a drug business. 
He is a registered pharmacist and handles a line of 
books, etc., in connection with his drug store. He 
is an Odd Fellow. 

C. C. SUMMERS was born in Mercer Coun- 
ty, Dec. 2, 1862. He lives three and one half 
miles east of Laredo. He was married Jan. 2y, 
1892, to Miss Martha Tuttle. They have three 
children. Bertha M., was born Nov. 8, 1892; 
Fred A., was born April 8, 1894; Wilma F., March 
29, 1904. Mrs. Summers was born April 8, 1870. 
Her father, Reuben M. Tuttle, was born Feb. 22, 
1848. Her mother, Margaret (Rash) Tuttle was 
born Nov. 28, 1852. 

Mr. Summers began farming in Mercer County 
at the age of twenty one. He lived near Ravanna 
for several years, coming to Grundy County in 
1903 and locating near Hickory. He lived a short 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 731 

time on the Co-op farm south of Trenton, moving 
in 1904 to the W. A. Merryman farm where he 
now resides. He is a Repubhcan. 

S. G. SMITH, son of Wm. C. and Mary 
Smith, both of whom are dead, was born Aug. 15, 
1854, near Watertown, New York. He now hve^ 
on Route six, Trenton, Mo. 

He was married March 29, 1874, to Nancy C. 
Getman, who was also born at Watertown, New 
York, August 27, 1856. They have had ten child- 
ren; Wm. C, born June 13, 1875, lives at Seymour, 
Iowa; Anna M., born Nov. 28, 1880, lives at home; 
Fred and Frances, twin boy and girl, born July 9, 
1883; Fred lives near Trenton and Frances is now 
Mrs. Omer Kemp of Trenton; Juno M., born 
March 30, 1866, is now Mrs. J. W. Bernard of 
Trenton; Wade H., born Aug. 9, 1888, died April 
13, 1890; Kite L., born April 8, 1891, lives at 
home; Philip H., born Aug. 10, 1894; Samuel, born 
July 23, 1896; Phoebe A., born Feb. 2y, 1900. 

Mr. Smith was born and reared on a farm in 
New York. He lived with his parents until he 
was grown. When he was married, he rented a 
dairy farm and lived there until 1887, when he 
moved to Iowa, where he remained ten years en- 
gaged in farming. In 1897, he came to Grundy 
County, where he has lived since. He has leased 
and handled a number of farms in that time. In 
the spring of 1909, he leased the George W. Frey 
farm near Grundy Center church. It consists of 



732 



HISTORY OF GRUiXDY COUNTY 



40 acres, well improved. He has also leased other 
land adjoining. 

Mr. Smith was township assessor in Jefferson 
County, New York for some years while he lived 
there. He is a stalwart Democrat in politics and 
takes a deep interest in public affairs. 




RESIDENCE OF J. C. SPERA. 



J. C. SPERA, son of Wm. Spera who died in 
1901, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, October 
21, 1869. His mother, Elvina C. Spera, lives in 
Illinois. Mr. Spera was married Nov. 20, 1888, 
to Miss Annetta Drager, daughter of Conrad and 
Charlotte Drager of Penn. Mrs. Spera was born 
Dec. 15, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Spera have three 
children. Guy C, was born May 27, 1890; Ray- 
mond D., July 2, 1894; William C, Dec. 24, 1897. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 733 

Mr. Spera lived with his parents on a farm near 
Carlisle until grown, when he went to work for 
the Postal Telegraph company as lineman, remain- 
ing with them but a short time. He then went in- 
to the employ of the Philadelphia and Redding 
railroad company and was in their service three 
years. In 1893, he moved to Decatur, III, near 
which place he farmed for 1 1 years, then moved to 
\'ernon County, Mo. He farmed in Vernon Coun- 
tv until 1908, when he purchased the J. B. Gass 
farm near Grundy Center church, where he has 
since lived. The farm consists of 120 acres, and 
is one of the prettiest little places of the county. 
Mr. Spera handles Poland China hogs and fine 
horses and cattle. He is a member of the I. O. O. 
F. and the Modern Woodmen. The family be- 
longs to the U. B. church. 

J. T. SPICKARD, son of George A. and Mary 
Spickard, was born in Grundy County near where 
the city of Spickard now is October 14, 1854. The 
city was named in honor of his father. Mr. Spick- 
ard was married to Mary C. Shinn, August 12th, 
1873. She died March 4, 1907. In April, 1908, 
he was married to Luella Cooper. 

Mr. Spickard lived on the old Spickard farm 
until grown, when he bought a farm for himself. 
He went to Oklahoma in 1892, remained seven 
years, returned to Missouri, stayed two years, then 
went to Colorado where he was in the railroad busi- 
ness five years. Returning to Missouri in 1907 he 
farmed for a vear, then took charge of the Farmers 



734 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




J. T. SPICKARD. 



Telephone Company as local manager, with head- 
quarters in Spickard. The company has sixteen 
long lines, and upwards of thirty phones in the city 
system. 

Mr. Spickard has six children and eight grand- 
children. His children are Wm. R., born August 
12, 1874, of Myers township; Sylvia T., March 16, 
1876, now Mrs. J. W. Larcom of Colorado; Maggie 
C, December 11, 1877, died March 12, 1879; Chas. 
G., October 19, 1880, of Grundy County; Ella F., 
December 21, 1886, now Mrs. Jesse Alumbaugh of 
Colorado; and George H., born June 17th, il 



GEORGE SUTTON, son of Mont and Amer- 
ica Sutton both of whom live near Tindall, was 
born in Garrett County. Kentucky, June 25, 1877. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 735 

He now lives near Trenton. He was educated in 
the public schools. 

On October 17, 1901, he married Anna Crutch- 
er, daughter of T. B. Crutcher. She was born in 
Kentucky, Sept. 28, 1879. They have three child- 
ren ; Forest T., born May 27, 1902; Denver R., 
July 15, 1903; and Oscar F., Sept. 13, 1905. 

^:r. Sutton came to Grundy County with his 
parents when about nine years of age. They set- 
tled near Tindall, where his father l^ought a farm. 
He lived there with his father until grown and 
then started farming for himself. He first 
boueht a farm near Grundv Center where he lived 
three years, and then sold that and bought his pres- 
ent farm in 1905, where he has lived since. He 
does general farming and stock raising. He be- 
longs to the Odd Fellows lodge and is a Republi- 
can in politics. 

L. M. TARTER is the son of F. M. and Mary 
Tarter. His father lives in Vernon County,his 
mother died in 1879. He was born at Farming- 
ton, Til., Sept. 16, 1878. He graduated at the 
Trenton High School in 1900, and then attended 
the I\Tissouri University, taking courses in agricul- 
ture and electrical engineering 

Mr. Tarter came to Missouri with his father 
when very small. They lived for a time near 
Farmersville, and for a time at Chillicothe. He 
worked on a farm, and at whatever work he could 
get, earning his way through school. For four 
years, he made his home with Dr. R. C. Norton. 



7:jt; 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 




RESIDENCE OF L. M. TARTER. 

After graduating in tl^e Trenton High School, he 
taught for several terms, then attended the univer- 
sity, working his way through that institution. 
December 14, 1904, during his senior year at the 
university, he married Miss J. Blanche Clark, the 
daughter of George W. Clark. When he had fin- 
ished school, ^Ir. Tarter lived on his father in- 
law's place for three years, then bought his present 
farm and moved thereon, building a beautiful 
home. Both he and Mrs. Tarter belong to the 
Methodist church. They have one son, Rodney 
Clark Tarter, born June 2y. 1909. 



DAVID THOMPSON, is a son of Joseph and 
IMarv Thompson. His father was one of the old 
citizens and early settlers. i\Ir. Thompson was 
born in Harrison countv, June 20, i.*^48. He was 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



73r 




RESIDENCE OF DAVID THOMPSON. 



ediicnted in the public schools of that day, a log 
cabin with puncheon seats. Mr. Thompson was 
married to Sarah A. Hume, daughter of Len B. 
Hume, an old settler of Clark county. Mrs. Thomp- 
son was born in Ripley county, Indiana, June 29, 
1849, ^^'^^^ came to Missouri when two years old, 
settling in Clark county. Mr. Thompson moved 
with his parents to Iowa in 1855, lived there one 
year, then came to Clark county, Mo., where his 
father bought unimproved land and hewed out the 
logs to build his own house. Deer were plentiful 
and neighbors scarce. Mr. Thompson lived at 
home with his parents till married then he and his 
brother, Dennis, went to Kansas where they bought 
land. He returrred to Clark county after a few 



73S HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

monLiis and farmed with his father one year then 
started west and stopped in Grundy county, buying 
land near Lindley, J\Io. There he remained for 
five years. He sold this farm and bought the 
Stephenson farm, sold this farm and went into the 
grocery business in Trenton, Mo. The next year 
fat bought the farm he now li\'es on which consists 
tof one hundred and sixty acres of land three and 
"bhe-half miles northeast of Trenton. He handles 
shorthorn cattle and fine hogs. 

j\Ir. Thompson enrolled in the Missouri Mili- 
tia, Co. K, 69th Regiment, Oct. 1864, and remained 
in the service five months, carrying a musket and 
seeing real service under Capt. Hahn and Col. 
Howell. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have seven children, 
one having died in infancy. They are : Cora Etta, 
born Feb. 11, 1870, now^ Mrs. Chas. Trump; Al- 
bert B., Feb. 10, 1872, lives east of Trenton; David 
D., Jan. 21, 1876, now in Salt Lake City, Utah; 
Susan J., June 19, 1878, now at home; Chas. O., 
July 2/. 1880, now in Webb City; Maggie R., July 
29, 1882, now Mrs. W. H. Beneking of near Tren- 
ton; John A. L., Nov. 18, 1884, now in Lincoln, 
Neb. ' 

ORA C. TOLSON is a son of A. C. and A- 

manda (Owen) Tolson, both native Missourians. 
His father was born near Alpha, Oct. 22, 1852; 
liis mother was born April 5, 1856. ^Ir. Tolson 
v/as born at Alpha, May 20, 1885. He lives two 
and three fourths miles southeast of Laredo. He 
was married April 10, 1907 to Miss Roxie Ann 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 739 

JMabel McKay. They have no children. Mrs. 
Tolson was born May 25, 1891. She is a daught- 
er of J. F. and Magnettie (Rule) ^Vlc Kay. Her 
parents were born in Indiana. 

Mr. Tolson, after completing the common school 
course, entered the Gem City Business College at 
Quincy, 111., in the spring of igoi and there com- 
pleted a Inisiness course, a course in typewriting 
and stenography. He then went to Kansas City 
where for a time, he worked as locomotive fireman 
for the C. and A. Railroad. Returning to Laredo, 
he clerked a year for the Laredo Mercantile com- 
pany. In 1907, he moved to the farm and has 
since been engaged in farming and stock-raising, 

Mr. Tolson is of a pioneer family. His grand- 
father, James Tolson, was a commissioner of jus- 
tice, appointed by Sterling Price in 1854. He is 
a member of the A. F. and A. M. and I. O. O. F. 
lodees. 



'^ts' 



Dr. K. W. TRAVIS, of Spickards, was born in 
Harrison County, June 4, 1852. After taking a 
general course in Grand River College, he graduat- 
ed in the St. Louis American Medical College, Eclec- 
tic, in 1878, after which he located at Spickards 
and has since that time practiced his profession in 
that territory, with the exception of four years, from 
1880 to 1884, at Modena, Mo., and fourteen month^ 
at Wableu, Mo., from which he returned in August, 
1908, and bought the drug store owned by the Dr. 
Cash estate. He now manages the drug store in 
addition to his medical practice. 



740 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Dr. Travis was married to Dollie Renfro, 
daughter of Charlton Renfro, at Spickard, March 
20, 1894. They have one child, Carohne, born 
March 16, 1896. 




FR. H. B. TIERNEY 



J. MILO TURNER, son of James D., and Mary 
Turner, was born at Mt. Ayr, la., April 30, 1884. 
He left Mt. Ayr when fourteen years old, when he 
worked in hotels at Fort Madison, Ottumwa and 
Keokuk, successively, in various capacities from 
dishwasher up to chef. In April, 1904, he went on 
the road for the International Correspondence 
Schools and was appointed assistant superintendent 
of the western Illinois division. In July, 1904, he 
went to thcvMonroe Hotel, Joliet, 111., as night clerk, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 741 

and was soon afterwards made day clerk, and stay- 
ed there until November i, 1907. 

Mr. Turner took charge of the new Harber 
Hotel at its opening, January 18, 1909. This is a 
thoroughly modern hotel in every respect, with 
telephone, bath, and every modern convenience for 
individual rooms, and is one of the handsomest 
buildings in the city of Trenton. 

W. C. URTON, son of Alfred and Ann Urton, 
was born in Adams County, 111., June i, 1858. He 
was married to Maggie A. Evans, daughter of Wm. 
Evans, of an old Grundy County family, June 26, 
1 88 1. 

Mr. Urton came with his parents to Grundy 
County in 1866, settling on "Illinois Ridge" where 
they lived until the death of the father in 1888. His 
mother sold the farm three years later, and moved 
to Laredo. She now makes her home with her 
daughter, Mrs. Welty. 

Mr. Urton quit farming in 1885, moving to 
Trenton, where he was in the mercantile business 
three years. He then came to Laredo and went into 
the general merchandise business. He was in part- 
nership with W. M. Robertson for a little more than 
three years, when he bought out Mr. Robertson's 
interest and has since been proprietor of the store. 
Mr. Urton's store is one of the largest in the county 
outside of Trenton, and does a large business. 

He is a member of the Masonic lodge and of 
the Christian church. 



742 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 




RESIDENCE OF JEROME VVESTFALL. 



JEROME WESTFALL was born February 3, 
186^, in Clarence, la. He is a son of David and 
Elizalieth W'estfall. He was married September 
20, 1893, to Miss Ella M. Dewell, daughter of 
Nathaniel Dewell. They have one child, Alice M., 
born March 3, 1902; another child died in infancy. 

Mr. Westfall lived on an Iowa farm until 
twenty-one years old. He then went to Miles City, 
IMontana, going into the employ of the Northern 
Pacific. After two years service for that company 
he went into the mercantile business in Miles City, 
in which business he is still interested. Mr. West- 
fall came to Grundy County in 1905 and bought a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Tren- 
ton. This farm is thoroughly modern with electric 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 743 

lights and every other modern convenience. He 
belono-s to the K. of P. lodge. 



C. B. WILLIAAIS, son of J. R. and Mary R. 
Williams, of this county, was born in Morgan 
Comity, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1S75. He lives on route 
two, Trenton, ^lo. Mr. W^illiams was married 
Sept. 13, 1897, to ^liss Mary A. Coit, daughter of 
Roy B. Coit, deceased. They have two children, 
Carl D., born Sept. 8, 1898, and Austin B., born 
Nov. 7, 1903. Mrs. Williams was born in Por- 
tage County, Ohio, July 27, 1875, coming to Mis- 
souri with her ]:)arents in 1882. 

]\Ir. Williams hved on an Ohio farm until 1892, 
\\-hen he came with his parents to Grundy County. 
They settled near Farmersville, where they lived 
three years, then l^.ought the farm now owned by 
Jerome Westfall. ^Ir. Williams, Sr., then bought 
a farm near the Rural Dale school house, and later 
the farm now owned by Lewis Robertson, selling 
it to :\lr. Robertson in 1908. Mr. Williams went 
to farming for himself while his father lived on the 
W^estfall ])lace, renting at first the farm now ownied 
bv B. F. Ford, then moving to the farm he now 
owns. A part of this farm came to Mrs. Williams 
from her father, her hus1)and buying land adjacent. 
In 1904, he sold the farm and returned to his old 
home in Ohio, where he remained three years, com- 
ing back to the same farm in 1907, and afterwards 
buying adjoining land. Both \\r. and Airs. Will- 
iams are meml:ers of the Baptist Church. 



744 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 




BARTON UTTERBACK'S STORE. BRIMSON. MO. 



BARTON UTTERBACK was born in Pull- 
man County, Indiana, Oct. 22, 1870. He was the son 
of John and Rachel Ellen Utterhack. He now lives 
at Brinison. He was educated in the district 
schools and Central Normal College at Danville, 
Indiana. 

Mr. Utterback was married March 17, 1891 to 
Emma Maxwell, daughter of James Maxwell of 
Harrison County. They have three children; Mar- 
mon M., seven years old; \^ernon E., six years old, 
and Ellen Marie, three years old. 

His mother died in 1873, when he was a small 
boy and left him with relatives. In 1879 he moved 
to Kentucky with his father, going from there to 
111., on a farm in 1880. In 1898 he moved to Har- 
rison County, Mo., where he now owns an 80 acre 
farm. About 1905 he moved to Brimson and pur- 
chased an interest in the Brimson Mercantile Co., 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY CaUNTY 745 

continuing" in that firm until the spring of 1906. 
He then bought the hardware interest of the Mer- 
cantile Co., and continued alone for a year, when he 
formed a partnership with Gabriel Jones and B. C. 
Stevens in the general mercantile line, Mr. Stevens 
retiring Jan. i, 1909, the store then becoming Ut- 
terback & Jones. The store has a floor space of 
80 X 50 feet, besides a basement under the entire 
building. It carries a general stock of dry goods, 
shoes, groceries, salt and proprietary medicines. 
Mr. Utterback is a Democrat. 

FRANK VENCILL, cashier of the Tindall 
bank, is a son of H. H. and Sarah (Winters) Ven- 
cill. of Gait. He was born near Gait, July 23, 1875. 
Mr. Vencill attended the Kirksville Normal, and 
took a business course. He was married to Mattie 
Hosom, of near Tindall, November 21, 1901. They 
have one child. Cor win, born June 6, 1906. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Vencill are of prominent Grundy 
County families. 

Mr. Vencill was born and raised on a farm. 
When nineteen years old he went into the Cook & 
Vencill Bank at Gait with his brother, G. E. Ven- 
cill. On the organization of the bank at Gilman, in 
1897, he was made cashier, then sold out his inter- 
est in the bank and returned to the farm. After 
four years spent in farming, Mr. \^encill w^ent back 
to the banking business, becoming cashier of the 
Tindall Bank upon its organization. His bank is 
in the midst of a prosperous farming community 
and he has built up a prosperous business. 




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HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 747 

■ j. R. WAGNER, son of John and Nancy Wag- 
ner, both of wlioni h\'e near Spickard, was l)()rn in 
Tazewell Connty, Virginia. He now^ resides on 
Route six, Trenton, }\\o. 

On Oct. 6, 1901, he was married to Miss Amy 
Long", daughter of Mark Long. Mrs. Wagner was 
born at Trenton. They have tw^o children ; ( )rville 
and Opal. 

^Ir. Wagner came to Grundy County with hi^ 
parents when he was two years old and settled near 
Spickard where his parents still live. He lived at 
home and hel])ed run the farm until he was grown 
and married, then went to farming for himself. He 
farmed on his father's place two years, then at the 
"Forks" three years. He then went to New ^lexi- 
co where he railroaded inr a year. Returning ta 
Grundy County he rented the Ballinger farm near 
Grundy Center. The farm consists of 136 acres 
and belongs tn ]. W. Ballinger. 

O. C. W^\GNER, son of J. A. and Nancy Wag- 
ner, both of whom live near Spickard, was born in 
Tazewell County, Virginia Oct. 9, 1876. He now 
lives on Route six, Trenton. Mr. W^agner was mar- 
ried Dec. 21, 1904 to Miss Mary Lovell, daughter 
of J. M. Lovell. She was born near ^lelbourne 
Sept. 7, i(S84. They have two children; Anna May, 
born Jan. 22, 1906, and Charles Monroe, born Jan. 
25, 1908. 

Mr. W'agner came to Grundy County w'hen about 
seven years of age and settled on a farm near Spick- 
ard where his father purchased a farm and where 



748 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

his parents still live. Mr. Wagner lived there un- 
til he was twenty two years old, when he left home 
and worked out for several years. He then mar- 
ried and went to farming for himself. He leased 
the Biggs place for several years, then the Lemley 
place four years, then bought his present farm 
known as the Ballinger farm, three miles northeast 
of Grundv Center church and six miles east of Tin- 
dall in Lincoln township. He does general farming 
and has a well improved farm of no acres. 

NANC^' J. WARREN was born in Pulaski 
County, Kentucky. Feb. 20, 1843. Her parents 
were John Kilburn, born in Kentuck}' in 1799 and 
died Jan. 1S74, and Nancy (Griffin ) Kilburn. Mrs. 
A\'arren now lives three miles southwest of Laredo. 
She was educated in the juiblic schools of Kentucky. 
She was married Sept. 9. 185S to Fountain F. War- 
ren, l)orn Dec. i, 1831. He was the son of William 
\W'irren of Kentucky and Elizabeth (Thompson) 
^^'arren of Kentucky. They had twelve children ; 
Elizabeth Hern, born Sept. 4, 1859; John H. and 
\¥m L..born May 26, 1862; Joseph M., born March 
16, 1865; Andrew H., born Nov. 10, 1868; Melissa 
E., born Jan. 17, 1871 ; Laura J., born Feb. 24. 1874; 
Montgomery, born June 16, 1876; Ida May, born 
May 10, 1879; Chas. E., born Jan. i, 1882; Milton 
G., born Nov. 10, 1884, and Nova E., born June 4, 
1898. 

Mr. Warren died Aug. 5, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. 
W^arren were married when quite young near Mrs. 
Warren's home where she now lives, but as soon 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



749 



as they could build their little one roomed house, 
they moved to their new home, where they lived ev- 
er since, and Mrs. Warren now lives on that farm 
Mr. Warren was one of the best stock men and his 
boys are to day interested in stock. In politics the 
family favors the Democratic party. Mrs. War- 
ren is a member of the Baptist church. 




RESIDENCE OF J. W. WILSON 



JOHN W. WILSON, son of J. B. and Corena 
Wilson, was born in Mercer County, September 7, 
i860. He was married September 6, 1889, to Miss 
Hilda Mueller, daughter of Jacob M. Pueller, of 
near Tindall. 

Mr. Wilson taught for several years, up to 
1881, in which year-he was elected township assessor 



<5L) HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

of Franklin township, and served twelve years. He 
became cashier of the liank of Spickardsville in 

1889, and remained there until 1894 when he went 
into the mercantile business as senior partner in 
the firm of J. \\\ Wilson Company, and he re- 
mained here until 1901 when he sold out and went 
to Houston, Texas. He remained there two years, 
and still holds property there. In 1904 Mr. Wil- 
son was elected cashier of the Farmers and Mer- 
clrnits Bank, which position he now holds. He is a 
Repul lic-in and ])rominent in luisiness circles of 
Spickard. 

MRS. AMY \\^YATT, who now resides at 
Gait, Mo., w'as born in Marion township, Grundy 
County, Feb. 22, 1864. 

She vras married Aug. 3, 1879 to Joseph N. 
Buckingham. His father was Philo and his moth- 
er Imogene Buckingham. They had three child- 
ren. Anna I. (Buckingham) Burditt, born July 
6, 1881 ; Juha A., ATay 26, 1884, died Nov. i, 1890; 
and Jennie (Buckingham) Allen, born April 4, 

1890. ]^'^rs. Wyatt's parents were J. B. Cnuch, 
born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 9, 181 5, died Nov. 18, 
1 87 1, and Anna (Wheeler) Couch, born in \"ir- 
ginia, March 12, 1839. Mr. Buckingham died 
in 1898. 

She married Benjamin F. Wyatt, Nov. 2^, 1899, 
a son of Wm. and Rachel (Thompson) Wyatt. 

l^^'rs. Wyatt is from one of the pioneer families. 
Mr. Wvatt was one of the first school teachers of 
the cnrntA- -nd pt the time of the breakhi'^: out of 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 751 

the war he enlisted in the 2t, I\1o., Co. C, Vol., Inf., 
He went in as a private and was promoted to the 
First Lieutenancy. At the close of the war he 
came back to Grundy and followed the plastering 
trade until 1866, then was deputy county clerk un- 
der R. P. Carnes. He then returned to his trade 
and followed it to the time of his death at Gait, in 
June, the 25th, 190S. 

Mrs. XA^'att is a member of the Christian Church. 
With the exception of seven months spent in Cali- 
fornia, she has always lived within a day's drive of 
her birthplace. 

THOMAS S. WILSON, a son of J. B. and 
Corena Wilson, was born in Grundy County, July 
25, 1867. He w^as married June 20, 1895, to IMiss 
Clara Packer, daughter of H. W. Packer. They 
have no children. 

Mr. Wilson lived on the farm until twenty- 
seven years old, when he came to Spickard and 
went into the poultry and produce business which he 
followed for fifteen years without intermission. He 
has now leased the business but still owns it. Mr. 
Wihon is also owner of the Spickard mills and deals 
extensively in grain, feed, seed, flour and meal. 
Mr. Wilson is one of Spickard's leading business 
men and has made very valuable properties out of 
both the mill and poultry plant. 

W. T. WILSON is the son of Jackson and 
Lou Emma Wilson, who came here at an early 
date. His father died five years ago, his mother 



752 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

in 1890. He was born in Grundy County, Oct. 
2, 1856, and lives on route one, Trenton. He was 
married Nov. 19, 1879 to Janie Dilley. They 
have three children; Augusta, born Nov. 3, 1883; 
now Mrs. D. M. May, of El Reno, Okla.,; C. E., 
born ]\lay 30, 1885, now^ in Keith County, Kansas; 
Emma, born Aug. 12, 1893. 

Mr. Wilson lived in Trenton until twelve years 
old, then lived on a farm until grown and married, 
when he went to 'farming for himself. He bought 
his present farm in 1898, and has lived there since 
that time. It consists of eio"hty acres of well im- 
proved land, and was entered ]}y 3*1 rs. W'lison's 
father, Jacob Dilley. 

]Mr. Wilson belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge. 
For a number of years he was justice of the peace 
and a member of the township board for Lincoln 
township. He and Mrs. Wilson are members of 
the Christian Church. 

F. L. W^OGD was born in Grant County, In- 
diana, May 27, 1869. He is a son ot W. M. and 
Melinda Wood. He is not mnrried. 

Mr. Wood is a Republican. He w^as elected 
clerk and assessor of Wilson township in 1891 and 
served in that office for sixteen years. He then 
retired to the farm, the Snowflake poultry farm, 
three and a half miles southeast of Laredo. Mr. 
Wood is a member of the Masonic lodge of Laredo. 
He takes an active interest in public affairs and is 
one of the party leaders of hi,s township. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 753 

HOWARD B. ASHER, son of Solomon and 
Elizabeth Asher, was born in Ohio, March 3, 1852. 
In 1869 he came with his parents to Grundy County, 
where his father bought the farm near Honey Creek 
Chapel on which Mr. Asher now lives. Three years 
later his father bought a hardware store in Trenton, 
and moved to Trenton to assist in running it. Later 
he and his brother, Milton, engaged in the hard- 
ware business, and he learned the tinner's trade. 
He was in the hardware business for a time with 
T. A. Murphy, their store being burned. He was 
in the poultr}^ business for a time, and was for five 
years engineer at Cook's mill. In 1906 he moved 
to the old home place, where he has since lived. 
It consists of 120 acres of well improved land. Mr. 
Asher was married Dec. 24, 1875, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Humphrey, daughter of Benjamin Humphrey. 
They have one son, Harry L. Asher, born April 
18, 1884, now salesman and advertising manager 
for the Farmers Store. 

WM. H. BABB is a son of James W. and 
Alice Babb. His father came from Tennessee, his 
mother from Kentucky. He was born in Grundy 
County, April 21, 1867. He was married to Miss 
Jennie Browning, daughter of Captain John M. 
Browning, Dec. 28, 1887. They have two chil- 
dren; Garnett, born May 11, 1889, and Charles E., 
Jan. 15, 1890. Mrs. Babb was born Feb. 7, 1869. 

Mr. Babb lived on a farm northeast of Tren- 
ton until he was twelve years old, when he moved 
with his parents to Trenton. He lived here five 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



755 



years, then went to Fontell, Iowa. From here he 
went to Repubhcan City and Norton City, Neb- 
raska, successively, then returned to Grundy Coun- 
ty where he remained a short time. He then went 
to CaHfornia, remaining only a short time. On 
his return he went to farming near Spickard where 
he remained five years, then to near Princeton, re- 




W. H. ]!ABB 



maining three years, then back to a farm east of 
Spickard. Later he moved to Trenton when he 
went into the real estate business, then into tlie 
wholesale beer and whiskey business. In the spring 
of 1909 he disposed of his wholesale business and 
returned to the real estate business, with head 
quarters at Kansas City, where he moved with his 
iamily later. 



756 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



R. M. BAKER was born on the old Baker 
homestead in Grundy County, twelve and a half 
miles north of Trenton, May 19, 1866. He lived 
there with his parents until 1886, when they moved 
to Livingston County, near Chillicothe, remaining' 
there until 1900. His father died while there. His 
mother lives in Clark County. Mr. Baker married 
in 1896, and went to farming for himself. He lived 
in Livingston County four years after his marriage, 




RESIDENCE OF J. 1'.. HK'OOKS 



then returned to Grundy County and bought the 
Henry Witten place of 230 acres five miles north- 
west of Trenton. There he has lived since. 

Mr. Baker was married Dec. 27, 1896, to Miss 
Willa Peery, daughter of Reece Peery and sister 
of the late Henry Peery. Mrs. Baker is also a na- 
tive of this county and was born on the old Peery 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



757 



place Oct. 27, 1866. They have no children. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Baker are members of pioneer fam- 
ilies of Grundy County. 




J. C. BARR. LAREDO, MO. 



T. H. BEACOM, son of J. and M. Beacom, 
was born in Jones County, Iowa, November 3; 
1866. Married January 8, 1888, to Nora F. Powers. 
They have three children: Mary Irene, born May 
27, 1890, Harold F., January 29, 1892, and Thomas 
H., Jr. born July 20, 1900. 

Mr. Beacom was born on a farm and lived 
there until fourteen years of age. He beg-?n rail- 
roading when sixteen and has held the following 
positions : call boy, time keeper, foreman of freight 
house platform, bill clerk, ticket clerk, pa^sens^er 
brakeman, train baggageman, freight brakeii'ian, 



758 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



conductor, foreman of gravel pit, yardniaster, gen- 
eral yardmaster, trainmaster and superintendent. 
He came to Trenton September, 1907, as Superin- 
tendent of the Missouri Division of the Rock Is- 
land. 

As the above indicates, he began his railroad 
career at the bottom of the ladder and worked his 
way upward by his own efforts, and in his own 
words, he attained his present position because he- 
never looked at the clock and made it a point to 
give service that would merit recognition. 




'•OUR STORE." DUNLAP, MO. (H. W.Gallatin, Pmp. 

RICHARD E. BOYCE, a son of Isaac and 
Dorinda (Peery) Boyce, was born in Daviess Coun- 
ty, in Nov. 1847. He came to Grundy County when 
ten years old and lived in Harrison township. When 
he was sixteen he began teaching, and taught in 
Grundy and Mercer Counties until 1867. He also 
took a course in Grand River College. Mr. Boyce 
clerked in W. W. Brook's store in Trenton for about. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 759 

a year, then with other firms. He was elected sheriff 
in 1872 and served two terms. In 1876 he was 
elected comity treasurer. He was in the mercantile 
business for many years, establishing the firm R. 
E. Boyce & Co., in 1879. The store burned about 
the year 1881 following which Mr. Boyce bought 
a farm tw^o miles east of Trenton. He formed a 
partnership with B. C. Nichols and James Fulker- 
son in 1885, and entered the mercantile business 
again. He was with this firm about twelve years, 
after which he was in the grocery business about 
seven years. In 1908 Mr. Boyce entered the real 
estate business in partnership with C. C. Keith. 

In 1904 Mr. Boyce w^as elected county judge. 
He was married June 11, 1871, to Miss Euphemia 
Leeper, w^ho died March 5, 1905. Six children were 
born to them. Dorinda P., born May 8, 1872, died 
Nov. 11, 1905; Leeper E., July 1, 1874; Martha' 
F., Oct. 30, 1876; Olive E., Jan. 6, 1882, now Mrs. 
Verne Gilluly; Grace M., April 4, 1884, now Mrs. 
C. R. Bowman; a son born Aug. 19, 1898, died in 
infancy. 

W. H. BREWER, one of Grundy County's 
prominent citizens, was born in Illinois, August 
31, 1850. He came with his parents to Mercer 
County when a small boy, and lived in that county 
for a considerable time, farming, and was in the 
mercantile business at Princeton for a short time. 
In 1873 he came to Grundy County settling near 
Spickard where for a number of years he farmed 
and fed cattle. He still owns a large farm in that 



760 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

locality, and is an extensive stock dealer. Later 
he engaged in the mercantile business at Spickard, 
forming a partnership with A. Rathschild, which 
partnership lasted but about a year. Mr. Brewer 
was for fifteen years in partnership with the late 
J. B. Carnes in the live stock business, buying in 
all parts of the country. He assisted in the organi- 
zation of the Bank of Spickard and was one of its 
directors. Selling his interest in that institution 




RESIDENCE OF W. H. BREWER, SPICKARD. MO. 

in 1903 he assisted in the organization of the Farm- 
ers and Merchants Bank, with E. A. Cook, P. G. 
Wild and others, and was its first president, having 
held that position continuously since that time. 

Mr. Brewer was married to Miss Sarah Corn- 
well about the year 1879. She died about the year 
1888, leaving two children: Nellie, born Dec. 20, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 761 

1880, now Mrs. Albert Cook; Wm. J., Feb. 23, 1882. 
Mr. Brewer married Miss Cora Cornwell in 1892. 
They have one child, Clifford, born July 28, 1893. 




W. H. BREWER, SPICKARD, MO. 

DR. T. J. COLLINS was born in Grundy 
County, on the old home place about seven miles 
northeast- of Trenton, Feb. 13, 1879, and is a son 
of John H. and Rhoda Collins. He lived there with 
his parents until grown and in the meantime at- 
tended the public schools. He then took a course 
in the Kirksville State Normal. Later he attended 
the American School of Osteopathy at that place, 
graduating in 1901. While attending this school 
Dr. Collins met Miss Grace Park, daughter of At- 
torney Joseph Park, of La Plata. Soon after grad- 
uation and on Oct. 2, 1901 they were married and 
Dr. Collins began practicing at La Plata where he 



762 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

remained four years. He then returned to Grundy 
County and practiced his profession in Trenton for 
a few months. He gave up his profession on ac- 
count of his health and went into the farming and 
stock buying business until Jan. 1, 1909 when he 
bought the implement and grain business of W. 
A. McVay. He has since added much to the stock 
and is building up a splendid trade. 

Dr. and Mrs. Collins have three children, two 
of whom are dead. T. J. Jr. was born Oct. 5, 1902; 
Margaret L., Feb. 13, 1904, died May 19, 1908; 
Joseph P., June 23, 1906, died July 23, 1907. 

Both Dr. and Mrs. Collins are devoted mem- 
bers of the Christian church. 

I. H. CRAIN, son of Louis and Hannah Crain, 
was born in Cass County, Ind., Jan. 19, 1842. He 
now lives on Route 1, Trenton. He was married 
to Louella Ford, Aug. 7, 1870, who died five years 
later, leaving two children. March 2, 1880, he was 
married to Mattie W. Lyford. By this marriage 
six children were born. 

Mr. Crain lived in Indiana until the outbreak 
of the war, when he joined Company E. 29th Indi- 
ana Volunteer infantry, and served until after the 
battle of Shiloh when he was discharged an account 
of sickness. He then went into the civil department 
of the government and handled supplies for the 
army until the close of the war. He then returned 
to Indiana for a short time, coming to Utica, Mis- 
souri, in 1866. He lived there until 1892 and moved 
to Daviess County coming to Grundy in 1900. Mr. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



763 



Grain worked at the carpenter trade until 1875. 
He was in the mercantile business in Livingston 
and Daviess Counties, trading a stock of goods in 
Daviess for the Jeff Lowry farm. He lived on the 
farm until 1903, then in Trenton until 1905, when 
he bought his present farm. He owns 614 acres 
in Grundy and 170 in Daviess Go. Mr. Grain is a 
breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle and Poland Ghina 




RESIDENCE OF I. H. CKAIN 

hogs, and raises some very fine animals. He is a 
member of the Masonic lodge. Mrs. Grain belongs 
to the Methodist church. 

The children by his first wife were Isaac H., 
born Jan. 10, 1881, lives at Texarke, Mo.; Jesse L., 
Feb. 26, 1883, at Joplin; Mary A., Jan. 5, 1885, 
died Nov. 24,' 1906. The children by his second 
wife are J. Frank, born Jan. 25, 1887; Ernest L., 



^64 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



March 3, 1889; Arthur B., April 25, 1891 lives 
at Joplin. 

S. B. CURRY, son of John and Frances 
(Moore) Curry, was born near Richmond, Iowa, 
Feb. 19, 1863. He lived at home on the farm until 
he was fifteen years of age when he started out for 




MAY TELL, TRIAL 2:18, PROPERTY OF S. B. CURRY 

himself. He worked for a few years at a training 
stable for race horses, then went to work for the 
Milwaukee railroad. He worked in Iowa as fire- 
man, brakeman, conductor and yardmaster until 
1889 when he came to Missouri and lived at Chilli- 
cothe until 1894. He came to Trenton in 1894 and 
had charge of the Rock Island yards until 1904 
when he quit railroading and went into business. 

He was married April 15, 1884 to Miss Maude 
S. Price, daughter of Dr. A. C. Price. They have 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



765 



three children. Dorothy L. was born Nov. 5, 1885 
now Mrs. Samuel Karnes, of Burlington, Iowa; 
James P., April 1, 1888, recently married Miss 
Beulah Oyler; Imogene, Nov. 26, 1891 at home. 

Mr. Curry has always been interested in fine 
horses and has owned some of the best animals in 
America. He now owns Col. Felter, colt trotter 
trial 2:35; May Tell, brown mare, 2:15 1-4 of the 
line of Hamburg Belle; 2:01 1-4; Lady Yates, 
2:21 3-4. 




RESIDENCE OF W. D. GOSE 



HIRAM URIAH DALE is of German and 
Irish descent, and was born in New Lexington, 
Ohio, April 8, 1839. He moved with his parents 
to a farm in Indiana in 1848, and there learned the 
brick mason's trade. In 1858 he joined the Chris- 
tian church of Loganport, Ind., and the same year 



766 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

began to prepare himself for the ministry, entering" 
the Indiana Normal School. He entered the Elec- 
tric Institute at Hiram, Ohio, in 1863 where he 
formed the acquaintance of H. W. Everest who oc- 
cupied the president's chair, while the president. 
Garfield, was in the war. When Everest was called 
to the presidency of Eureka College in 1864 Mr. 
Dale went there, where he graduated in 1868, after- 
wards receiving the A. M. degree from that insti- 
tution. 

On his graduation he took the pastorate of a 
church in Massachusetts, and came from there to 
Trenton in 1870, where he preached seven years, 
reorganizing the church which had been disinte- 
grated by the war. 

Mr. Dale was married Oct. 9, 1873 to Miss 
Leona Boggs, of Eureka, 111. She died Oct. 31, 
1902. Of this union six children were born: Edna, 
now a missionary in China ; Ruby, a teacher of 
music, in Chicago; Lois, now Mrs, E. H, Swander, 
of South Dakota; Mary, now Mrs. F. Hooker 
Groom, whose husband is pastor of the Christian 
church in Tacoma, Wash. D. P. is now in the uni- 
versity at Madison, Wis. The youngest died at 
the age of four. 

Mr. Dale has taught school; he was financial 
secretary for Drake University three years and 
Iowa state secretary of the National Benevolent 
Association for the Christian church for seven 
years. 

Rev. Dale has been about fifty years in the 
ministry, and is still in active service. He was mar- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 767 

ried Feb. 14, 1906, to Mrs. Mary Roweth, of Dun- 
Zap, where he now resides and preaches for his home 
church and for the church at Tindall. 




RESIDENCE AND BAKN OF GEORGE LENZ 

DR. E. A. DUFFY, a son of B. F. and Eliza- 
beth (Kuhn) Duffy, was born in Quincy, 111., Oct. 
18, 1878. His father was for many years connected 
with the Burlington railroad in various official ca- 
pacities and lived in a number of places during that 
time. Dr. Duffy left home while young, and went 
to reading medicine with Dr. Powell, a noted sur- 
geon of Albia, Iowa, and also attended the Albia 
high school. He then attended the Marion Sims 
Medical College at St. Louis, graduating in 1899. 
He took the examination before the Iowa state 
board in 1898, and was the youngest man ever li- 



768 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



censed by that board to practice medicine, but he 
did not take up practice until after his graduation 
a year later. He is also a graduate of the Chicago 
Post Graduate Hospital and a registered pharma- 
cist. 

Dr. Duffy practiced in Iowa until 1907 when 
he came to Trenton. He is especially interested 
in microscopical work and bacteriology. He was 
married April 6, 1900, to Miss Ollie Moore, daugh- 
ter of O. A. Moore, of Green Castle, Mo. They 
have two children: Margaret, born Feb. 1, 1903 
and Oliver, Aug. 15, 1906. Dr. Dufify devotes his 
entire time to his profession, and has built up an 
extensive practice. He was for a time associated 
with his brother in the drug business at Green Cas- 
tle. 

FRANK M. FISHER, one of the best known 
farmers and stock men in the countv, was born 




RESIDENCE OF F. M. FISHER 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 769 

in Warren County, 111-, Oct. 1, 1855, and is a son of 
Moses and Margaret (Chinn) Fisher. He came 
with his parents to Grundy County in 1856 and 
they settled near what is now the Four Corners, 
his father purchasing the farm Mr. Fisher now 
owns. He remained at home with his parents until 
grown when he started out for himself, farmed 
a few years, but later gave most of his time to stock 
buying in which he was very successful. He was live 
stock agent for the O. K. railroad for several years, 
but finally gave that up so that he might devote 
his entire time to his own business interests. In 
1893 he purchased the old home place and married 
the latter part of the year. He has lived there con- 
tinuously since that time managing his farm, but 
still devotes much of his time to buying and ship- 
ing stock. His farm consists of 240 acres. He does 
general farming and handles all kind of high grade 
stock. 

Mr. Fisher w^as married Dec. 27, 1893 to Mrs. 
Anna Walker, widow of Lon Walker. They have 
one child, Lillian, born Feb. 20, 1895. 

CALEY F. FLEMING was born in Highland 
County, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1852. He is a son of Robert 
and Christina (Caley) Fleming. Mr. Fleming 
moved with his parents to Richland County, 111., 
when small, and lived on a farm in that county un- 
til about grown. He then went to Olney, 111., where 
he was employed in a large flouring mill, learning 
the miller's trade. He worked here from 1872 until 
1889, when he came to Trenton and went into the 
milling business buying an interest in the city mills 



770 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



with his brother, Henry Fleming, and Isaac Jen- 
nings. They sold out in 1905 and he took charge 
of the C. H. Cook mill, with which he has remained 
since, during its several changes of ownership. 

Mr. Fleming was married June 19, 1878, to 
Miss Mary St. John, daughter of M. M. St. John. 
They have one child, Robert Bain, born June 24th, 
1879. He is now married, and is employed in the 
post office in Trenton. 

Mr. Fleming is a Republican. He is now and 
has been for many years a member of the board of 
education. He is a member of the Methodist church 
and of the M. W. A. and the K. of P. orders. 




T. B. FORD 



T. B. FORD, son of J. B. and Sarah Ford, 
was born and grew to manhood on the old Ford 
homestead in Myers township, Grundy County. 



HISTORY OF GRUxNDY COUNTY 771 

He attended the district schools, Grand River Col- 
lege, Humphreys College, afterwards graduating 
at the Warrensburg state normal, and attending the 
Missouri state university, the University of Chic- 
ago, and Harvard University. He is now taking 
post graduate work in Harvard. 

Since early manhood Mr. Ford has devoted 
his life to teaching. Beginning with the country 
schools in his neighborhood, he went to Spickard 
as principal, then to a number of cities in this state, 
as Superintendent, among them being New London, 
Marionville, Vandalia, Gallatin, and Trenton, suc- 
cessively. His last work in teaching was as head 
of the department of English in the Maryville state 
normal. 

Mr. Ford was married to Miss Elbe Alford, 
of Ralls County. They have two children, Law- 
rence and Everett. 

W. O. GARVIN was born in Rogersville, Ken- 
tucky, Nov. 9, 1853. He came to Missouri with 
his parents when about five years old, stopping at 
Chillicothe a short time then coming to Grundy 
County. He lived on a farm near Edinburg until 
about grown, and attended Grand River College. 
On finishing school he went to farming for him- 
self, coming to Trenton in 1879, where he clerked 
for R. H. Hume in the grocery business until Mr. 
Hume sold his store to Mr. Stein. He then worked 
for H. Stein until 1886, when President Cleveland 
appointed him postmaster of Trenton. When lus 
four years term as postmaster had expired he went 




MR. AND MRS. W. O. GARVIN AND SON GILBERT AND RESIDENCE 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 773 

into the grocery business with T. A. Woodress, con- 
tinuing until 1892. He was then in the real estate 
business with E. A. Fisher for a number of years. 
He helped to organize the American bank, was made 
president, and on the consolidation of that bank 
with the Farmers Echange Bank, in 1904, he was 
made president of the Farmers Exchange bank, 
which position he has since held. The latter institu- 
tion was organized in 1903, has a capital stock of 
$80,000, and does a flourishing business. 

Mr. Garvin carries on stock raising and farm- 
ing extensively, and is interested in various business 
enterprises. He owns 725 acres of land five miles 
southeast of Trenton. 

Mr. Garvin was married to Miss Vada Riggs, 
August 20, 1887. She is the daughter of R. W. 
Riggs. They have one child, Gilbert Martin, born 
July 21, 1891. He is a graduate of the Trenton high 
school, and is now taking a law course in Drake Un- 
iversity. 

RICHARD J. GREEN was born in Peoria 
County, Illinois, where he lived until 1881 when he 
came to Sullivan County, Missouri. He has lived 
since that time in Sullivan, Livingston and Grundy 
counties. He spent four years in general merchan- 
dise stores in Lindley and Humphreys. April 15, 
1889 he began banking at Gait. In 1894 he went 
to Chula and Jan. 1, 1902 he moved to Trenton 
where he has since lived. 

Mrs. Green was born and reared in Grundy 
County and was formerly Miss Alice Rooks. Mr. 



774 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



and Mrs. Green have no children. 

Mr. Green is cashier of the Farmers Exchange 
Bank at Trenton. He is erecting a very handsome 




RICHARD J. GREEN 



residence on College Avenue in Trenton. He has 
other real estate interests in the city and is inter- 
ested in a number of business enterprises. 



W. H. GRIFFEE was born in Dresden, Ohio,. 
Dec. 19, 1856. He came to Mercer County when 
a small boy, starting across from Ohio in a wagon. 
His father, Wm. Grififee, died on the road. When 
he was twelve years old he came to Grundy Coun- 
ty, his mother having- already moved here, and soon 
after went to work in a butcher shop. He was in 
the ice business for twelve years, later conducting 
a meat market, in which business he is now engaged. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 775 

Mr. Griffee handles an excellent and extensive line 
of goods, and has a good business. His shop burned 
last winter and its contents were almost completely 
destroyed, Mr. Griffee losing a considerable sum. 
He soon afterwards opened a new market on Elm 
Street, near the Central school building, where he 
is now located. 

Mr. Griffee was married May 18, 1881, to Miss 
Cornelia Harding, daughter of B. F. Harding, 
They have four children, three of whom are living. 
Beulah R. was born in May, 1882, died March 20, 
1886; Charles, Oct. 15, 1885, is married and in 
business with his father; Eva M., Feb. 29, 1888; 
Lynne, Jan.23, 1891. 

EDGAR M. HARBER, a son of Thomas B. 
and Mildred (Phelps) Harber, was born on a farm 
near Richmond, Kentucky, Oct. 26, 1854. He at- 
tended the common schools at Clinton County, Mis- 
souri and completed his education in the high school 
at Nebraska City, Nebraska. In 1872 he moved 
to Trenton and in 1873 entered the law office of 
Captain H. J. Herrick as a student and was admitted 
to the bar in 1875. During his stay in the office 
of Captain Herrick he was justice of the peace, his 
term expiring in Jan. 1877. In 1879 he was ap- 
pointed city attorney of Trenton by Mayor George 
Tindall and was re-appointed by Mayor H. S. Low. 
In 1880 he was elected presidential elector for the 
Tenth congressional district on the Democratic tic- 
ket and again elected elector in 1892. He was elected 
as prosecuting attorney of Grundy County in 1882, 
and served one term. For fifteen vears Mr. Harber 




E. M. HARBER 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 111 

practiced law in partnership with A. G. Knight, 
the firm dissolving by mutual agreement in 1907. 

Mr. Harber's name has been repeatedly urged 
for the Democratic nomination for congress in this 
district, and he has been prominently mentioned in 
various sections of the state as a candidate for Gov- 
ernor and also for attorney general, but re- 
fused to allow his name to go on the ticket. He was 
on the first board of law examiners, established in 
1905, afterwards resigning on account of the stress 
of personal business. He is a member of various 
fraternal organizations, was Grand Chancellor of 
the K. of P. of Mo. He has valuable real estate 
interests in Grundy County, Oklahoma and Texas. 

Mr. Harber was married March 8, 1881, to 
Miss Lizzie Austin, daughter of Col. James Austin. 
Mrs. Harber died Sept. 24, 1907. 

DR. JOHN E. HERRIOTT was born at Dela- 
ware, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1849. As a boy he attended the 
public schools at Delaware and then took a course 
at the Ohio Wesleyan College. He received his 
professional training at the Cincinnati Medical Col- 
lege, from which he^ graduated in 1872. He suc- 
cessfully practiced his profession at Gerome and 
other towns in Ohio until 1893 when he moved with 
his family to Trenton, where- he continued the prac- 
tice and a few years later went into the drug busi- 
ness. He sold his drug store May 1, 1909 and has 
since devoted his time entirely to his practice. Dr. 
Herriott's first wife was Salima Peters, a daughter 
of Abraham Peters. She died March 25, 1899, 
leaving him four children. G. P. Herriott was born 



778 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Oct. 17, 1894 and is now in the U. S. Gov. Service 
at Everett, Wash.; Gertrude H., May 1, 1880, now 
Mrs. Levi Stubbs of Bethany; Gladys H., now Mrs. 
Chas. Abrahams of Ashley, Ohio; Gerald, Jan. 9, 
1890. 

Dr. Herriott was married Nov. 27, 1899 to 
Mrs. Dollie A. Earnest. She died Feb. 28, 1909. 

W. W. HUBBELL, a son of Major George 
Hubbell, was born at Trenton, Nov. 4, 1844, and 
has made this city his home all his life. His educa- 
tion was completed at the college of Glasgow, Mo., 




W. W. HUBBELL 

in 1850, and from that time to 1861 he worked on 
his father's farm. In that year he entered the 
Union army as second lieutenant of the Grundy 
County battalion under Walter King and served 
six months. In 1862 he helped to organize the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 779 

3rd regiment M. S. M. for which regiment he ser- 
ved as first heutenant and adjutant. Resigning 
his commission, he was appointed deputy county 
and circuit clerk. In October of that year he was 
married to Miss Fannie Austin, daughter of James 
Austin, and immediately afterwards engaged in the 
mercantile business with his father-in-law and J. 
H. Shanklin under the firm name W. W. Hubbell 
& Co. He afterwards farmed, following which he 
engaged in the grocery business, then farmed again, 
and shipped grain and live stock, later again en- 
gaging in the mercantile business. Mr. Hubbell 
has been for a number of years proprietor of the 
Hubbell opera house, a highly creditable theatre 
for a city the size of Trenton. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell have had six children: 
Alida T., Arthur R., Austin E., Laura L., Nellie 
Grant and Woolsey. 

M. B. JOLLY, a son of Spear and Susan Jolly, 
was born in Madison County, Kentucky, Oct. 2, 
1848. When but two years of age he moved with 
his parents to Adams County, 111., where his father 
died and where Mrs. Jolly lived until 1865. He then 
came with his mother to Grundy County and set- 
tled on a farm six miles east of Trenton, where they 
lived several years. Later Mr. Jolly worked at the 
baker's trade, then took a trip to the south-west, 
remaining two years. Returning in 1889, he bought 
his present farm. It is situated three and a half 
miles north of Trenton and most of it is in fruit. 
Mr. Jolly makes a specialty of raising Ben Davis 



780 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

and Jonathan apples. His orchards are very fine 
and he has one of the prettiest country homes in 
the county. 

He was married Oct. 9, 1873 to Miss Victoria 
Woods, daughter of Lemuel Woods. They have 
one child, Harry D., born Oct. 16, 1874. He is a 
Rock Island engineer and lives in Trenton. Mr. 
and Mrs. Jolly are devoted members of the Metho- 
dist church. 

C. C. KEITH, son of N. W. and Margaret 
(Schooler) Keith, was born near Spickard, Dec. 
8, 1850. He lived in that section until 1861 when 
they moved to Iowa where they remained until 1873 
when they returned to Grundy County, Mr. Keith 
having married in the meantime. He farmed a few 
years, was in the saw mill business for a few years, 
farmed awhile then moved to Trenton in 1892 where 
he worked for the Rock Island in the round house 
for about sixteen years. In Sept. 1908 he went in- 
to the real estate business with Judge R. E. Boyce. 

He was married Jan. 5, 1873 to Miss Hannah 
E. Herron. She died Dec. 16, 1878 leaving four 
children. W. B. was born Nov. 14, 1873; Almira 
J., July 29, 1875, now Mrs. W. E. Marsh; Cora M., 
March 1, 1877; Carrie B., Oct. 19, 1878, now Mrs. 
Geo. Boyd. 

He married Rachel P. Densmore, Jan. 8, 1881. 
They have four children. Jessie L. was born Mar. 
21, 1883; Ida I., Aug. 8, 1885, now Mrs. Albert 
Tindall; Albert A., June 24, 1888; Alvina L., Mar. 
2, 1890. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 781 

J. O. LAYSON, son of James F. and Jemima 
Layson, was born in Harrison County, Nov. 13, 
1869. He came to Grundy County with his parents 
in 1875, settHng- in Trenton, where they remained 
for nine years. They then moved to Lincoln town- 
ship, where they conducted a farm. Soon after 
this Mr. Layson went to farming for himself, buy- 
ing a large farm in that part of the county, on 
which he built a fine residence. He sold this farm 
in 1908 and moved to Trenton. The next year he 
bought the McKeen fruit farm near Moberly Park. 
He devotes much of his time to buying and shipping 
stock. 

Mr. Layson was married May 10, 1894 to Miss 
Lizzie Ricketts, a duaghter of T. C. Ricketts. They 
have two children; Myrtle, born Sept. 12, 1896, 
and James T., April 1, 1900. 

MARION W. LEGG, son of Bourter and 
Cemira Legg, was born in Grundy County, near 
Tindall, Nov. 27, 1869. He lived at home until 
Feb. 15, 1891 when he was married to Mollie B 
Tracy, daughter of N. R. Tracy, and moved to a 
farm four miles east of his present home. He lived 
there until 1902 when he sold the farm and moved 
to Trenton for a few months and then moved to 
his father's farm for two years when he bought 
76 acres of the same place which is now his home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Legg have two children; Clea- 
tice E., born April 12, 1898; and Agell M., March 
17, 1902. 

Mr. Legg does general farming and handles 



782 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



high grade stock 



His father is one of the old 
pioneers of the county and hves at Tindall. 




RESIDENCE OF MARION LEGG 



CxEORGE W. LYNCH was born at Washing- 
ton, 111., Nov. 24, 1868 and is a son of Thomas O. 
and Sarah (Brown) Lynch. He was born and 
reared on a farm and lived in Illinois with his par- 
ents until 1882 when they moved to Iowa where 
they remained until 1889 and then came to Grundy 
County. Mr. Lynch worked at various occupations 
for two years and then took the management of the 
Harber farm. His parents came to this county 
with him and made their home with him. His 
father died Sept. 6, 1906 and his mother lives with 
her son and keeps house for him. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 783 

A few years after Mr. Lynch took charge of 
the Harber farm, he and Mr. Harber went into 
the Hereford cattle business and for a time had 
one of the most famous herds in the country. They 
are still in the business, but not extensively. In 
Dec. 1907 they started the Jersey dairy and now 
own one hundred thoroughbred Jersey cows, all 
the milk being sold at Trenton. Mr. Lynch 
now devotes his time principally to the man- 
agement of the dairy. The farm consists of 
268 acres and joins the city limits on the east. It 
is splendidly improved and has one of the biggest 
and best barns in the state. All the buildings are 
lighted with electricity and the cows are milked 
with electric machines. A big silo was recently 
erected. 



A. M. MARSDEN, the son of John and Anna 
Marsden, was born in Trenton, May 3rd, 1879. 
He attended high school here, then went to work 
in the Ro6k Island shops, learning the machinist's 
trade. He was manager and part owner of the 
overall factory when it was in operation, running 
it three years. He was also manager of the Tren- 
ton Laundry during this time. Since the overall 
factory closed he has devoted his time to the man- 
agement of the laundry. The laundry is equiped 
with the most up to date modern machinery, and 
does a large business. 

Mr. Marsden was married Dec. 25, 1900, to 
Bessie A. Fry, daughter of B. A. Fry. They have 



784 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



two children ; Virginia, born May 25, 1902, and 
Elizabeth, February 11, 1905. 




A. N. MARSDEN 



M. J. O'CONNELL, son of Jerry and Mary 
(McAnnally) O'Connell, was born Aug. 19, 1875- 
in Preble County, Ohio. His mother died when 
he w^as six years of age and he was taken care of 
by a neighboring family for five years. He then 
went to Lexington, Kentucky, remained four years 
then went to Ohio where he lived with his sister 
a short time. When he was seventeen years of 
age he went into the livery business for three years, 
then farmed a short time, then went back into the 
livery business. He remained in Ohio until he was 
twenty-three years of age then went to Albany, 
Indiana for two years, then to Muncie, Indiana for 
two years, then to Connersville, engaging in the 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 785 

livery business at each place. In 1904 he went to 
Texas where he went into the land basiness. He 
cai.ie to Trenton in 190(S where he ha? since made 
his headquarters and deals in Texas land. 

JAMES S. OVERTON, son of John W. and 
Amy S. Overton, was born on Illinois Ridge, Grun- 




JAMES S. OVERTON 

dy County, Aug. 20, 1856. He lived on the farm 
with his parents until 1878, when he was married 
to Miss M. J. Overman of this county. He con- 



786 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

tinued farming for about seven years. He traded 
his stock of goods for a farm known as the John 
B. Combs farm, and about a year later moved to 
Trenton which city has since been his home. He 
has dealt in horses and mules extensively since com- 
ing to Trenton. He is a director in the Farmers 
Exchange Bank, the Trenton Ice Company, is serv- 
ing his fourth year as president of the Grundy 
County Fair Association, and is one of the leading 
citizens of the county. 

Mr. Overton's father, John W. Overton, was 
born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1812, and came 
to America fifteen years later. In 1839 he was 
married to Miss Amy S. Alger, in Quincy, 111. Mrs. 
Overton's mother was born in New York in 1818. 
They came to Missouri about the year 1850, went 
back to Illinois in 1860 and returned to Grundy 
County in 1866 where they lived until their death. 
J. W. Overton died Oct. 5, 1893; Amy S. Overton 
March 10, 1899. Four children survive them: John 
G. and J. S. Overton, Mrs. H. C. Campbell and Mrs. 
G. G. Owen, all of Grundy County. 

B. M. PATTON was born near Huntsville, 
Alabama, Dec. 25, 1822. When about seven years 
old he came with his parents to Tennessee, living 
there about eight years, coming to Randolph Coun- 
ty, Mo., in 1837. He came to Lincoln township, 
Grundy County, in 1855, and lived there until his 
death. 

He was married Feb. 6, 1839, to Permelia Bax- 
ter, a native of Howard County, born Oct. 26, 
1831. Her parents, Richard and Margaret Baxter, 



788 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

were both natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- 
ton were the parents of fourteen children, only four 
of whom are now living. 

B. M. Patton died June 17, 1886; Mrs. Pat- 
ton, Jan. 8, 1908. The children living are Helena 
J., now Mrs. Frank Ross; Bartley H., of St. Joseph; 
J. B. of this county, and Bettie, wife of E. G. Pen- 
nell. 

J. N. RATLIFF was born in Tlhnois, Feb. 
2, 1854. He is a son of MarceUns and Sarah 
(Brov\'n) Ratliff. He came to Grundy County with 
his parents when a small boy, living on a farm un- 
til his marriage. He then farmed three years, eas- 
ing land, after which he moved to Trenton and went 
into the grocery business with Wm. Drinkard. He 
remained in this business three years, then returned 
to the farm, buying the home place after the death 
of his father. After three years he returned to 
Trenton where he engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness with George Moore, then with W. E. Drinkard 
then engaged in the grocery business with T. N. 
Witten, and afterwards with other partners, re- 
maining in the business until 1907 when he sold 
out to Scott Bros. & Gabrielson, and moved to Kan- 
sas City as a partner in the live stock commission 
house of Carnes, Ratliff Company. Mr. Ratliff 
is now engaged in farming, northeast of Trenton, 
he and his brother, Ed., owning 1080 acres. He 
is a director in the Farmers Exchange Bank, which 
he helped organize, and is interested in a number 
of important business enterprises. 



790 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Ratliff was married Dec. 24, 1878, to Miss 
Fronie Drinkard, daughter of Abner Drinkard. 
She was born in Grundy County, Aug. 12, 1858. 
They have had six children, four of whom are liv- 
ing. Okey was born Sept. 4, 1880, died Oct. 12, 
1880; Jessie E., now Mrs. P. L. Gardner, of Gil- 
man, July 29, 1883; Amy P., Nov. 15, 1885; Lee 
T., June 12, 1888; Willa M., May 17, 1891, died 
Sept. 2, of that year; Charles M., March 29, 1893. 

Mr. Ratliff is a Democrat. 




RESIDENCE OF J. M. REAM 



WILLIAM H. ROBERTSON was born in 
Virginia, Nov. 11, 1811. He was the son of Nicho- 
las and Sarah Robertson, and^ one of a familly of 
twelve children, nearly of whom lived to a very old 
age. He came to Missouri in 1834, stopping first 
in Warren, Calloway and Boone Counties, coming 
to Grundy in 1844 entering the mercantile busi- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 791 

ness at Trenton, in which business he remained un- 
til 1864, when he went to Alpha, remaining three 
years. He then moved to a farm near the present 
site of Laredo, where he lived until his death, which 
occurred March 13. 1901, at which time he was in 
his ninetieth year. \ 

Mr. Robertson was married four times. His 
first wife was Louise A. McGuire, to whom he was 
married in 1836. Four children were born to this^ 
union. He was married to Mary M. White in 1847, 
To them three children were born. His third mar- 
riage was to Ann Thompson, in 1854. He was 
married to Mrs. Louisa (Graham) Williams, Feb. 
25, 1857. To this union ten children were born. 
Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were devout members of 
the Baptist church. She died in January, 1906. 

Mr. and Mrs. Roberston were among the 
strongest characters of Grundy County's pioneers, 
and were influential and highly respected citizens. 




RESIDENCE OF A. C. STORMS, LAREDO. MO. 



792 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

W. E. SHIRLEY, one of North Missouri's 
prominent young lawyers, was born and reared near 
Queen City. His father, who died recently, was 
one of the leading physicians of that part of the 
state. Mr. Shirley was educated in the public schools 
and the Kirksville Normal. He then engaged in 
teaching, studying law in the meantime, and was 
admitted to the bar at Montgomery City in 1896. 
He took up the practice of law in that city for a 
few years, then moved to Kirksville, where he has 
since lived. He was elected prosecuting attorney 
of Adair County in 1906. After his term of office 
had expired he entered the employ of the Q. O. & 
K. C. railroad as assistant claim attorney, with 
headquarters at Kirksville. While not a resident 
of Grundy County, he is identified with it in a pro- 
fessional way. 

L. D. SPENCER was born in Ohio, Jan. 17, 
1850. His parents were David and Angeline Spen- 
cer. He was educated in the public schools and in 
the Lebanon Normal School. At the age of twenty 
Mr. Spencer began teaching in Ohio, and continued 
teaching in Ohio and Missouri until 1892. He came 
to Missouri in 1875 and bought a farm in Lincoln 
township. About the year 1892 Mr. Spencer went 
into the grocery business in Trenton, in which 
he has been engaged since that time. He was 
in partnership with J. L. Lafiferty for ten years, 
and since the dissolution of the partnership has been 
in business alone. His store is one of the largest 
in the city. 



794 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Mr. Spencer was married to Nannie Hosom 
Dec. 21, 1871. Mrs. Spencer was born August 
26, 1854. They have two children : Edna, now Mrs. 
C. C. Wilson, born Aug. 3, 1880, and Libbie H., 
July 21,1884,now Mrs. Carlos Alexander. Mr.and 
Mrs. Spencer have a beautiful home. They are 
members of the Baptist church. 




C W. SCOTT 



HENRY STEIN was born in Baden Germany, 
April 14, 1832. He came to New York, July 5, 
1849. His first work here was that of peddling 
in the counties of Orange, Sullivan, Delaware and 
Ulster in New York. In 1854 he came to Missouri 
and peddled in Saline county for one year when he 
engaged in the dry goods and grocery business at 
Arrow Rock until 1864 and from there he went 
to Quincy, Illinois continuing in the same business 



796 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

until 1868, when he went to Chilhcothe. In the 
spring of 1869 he came to Trenton and established 
a store, and continued in the mercantile business 
in this city until the time of his death, Sept. 10, 
1909. Mr. Stein was one of the most prominent 
and highly respected business men of Trenton. 

He was married Aug. 28, 1859 to Miss Rebecca 
Strouse of New York City. They were the parents 
of eight children: Gus of Carrolton; Ott, Abe, Nate 
and Ed, associated with their father in business in 
Trenton; Mrs. H. Swike of Maysville, and Mrs 
Sam Weil of Carrolton. Maurice, the eldest of 
the family, died some years ago at Chilhcothe. 



RESIDENCE OF H. NEELY 

LYMAN T. SONGER was born in Grundy 
County six miles northeast of Trenton Oct. 23, 1862. 
He is a son of Giles and Nancy (Childers) Songer. 
He lived on a farm with his parents until married, 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 797 

then went to farming for himself. In 1901 Mr. 
Songer was appointed rural mail carrier for Route 
1, which position he has held since. He lives on a 
160 acres farm three miles northeast of Trenton. 
He also owns ten acres just northeast of the city 
limits. Mr. Songer has long been prominent in 
the state association of rural carriers, serving as 
president of that organization until Sept. 1909. He 
is also a member of the National Executive commit- 
tee and a delegate to the national convention at 
Rochester, New York. He has attended every na- 
tional convention since the organization of the as- 
sociation. He uses an automobile to carry the 
mail in good weather, 

Mr. Songer was married July 4, 1883 to Miss 
Margaret Rains who died in Feb. 1902, leaving one 
child, Judson, born Sept. 21, 1885. He was mar- 
ried Jan. 18, 1905 to Mrs. E. V. Veatch, daughter 
of B." B. Gill. 

C. A. THOMPSON, was born Feb. 2, 1869 at 
Anderson, Indiana. He lived at home and attended 
school until he was twenty-three years of age. 
After finishing school he worked at the lumber 
business for several years then went to Camden, 
Ark., where he accepted a position as Superinten- 
dent of the Bayou Lumber Co. He remained there 
for four years when he went to Cainsville and took 
charge of the yards there for Miner & Frees. In 
1902 he came to Trenton and took charge of the 
lumber yard and has remained here since. 

Mr. Thompson was married Jan. 30, 1900 to 



798 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Miss Lula M. Goodrick, Pendleton, Ind. She died 
March 5, 1901. He was married June 22, 1904 
to Miss Henrietta Lemkcamp, They have one child, 
Dortha Stella, born July 26, 1909. 




RESIDENCE OF D. T. THOMPSON 



N. R. TRACY, son of James B. and Mary F. 
Tracy, was born in Garret County, Kentucky, Aug. 
4, 1844. He came to Missouri with his parents in 
1850, his father buying a hotel in Trenton, which 
he conducted for a few years. Later the father 
bought a 600 acre farm eight miles north of Tren- 
ton of Levi Moore, and lived there until 1866 when 
he sold it and bought a farm just north of Trenton, 
a part of which is now owned by N. R. Tracy and 
his son-in-law, F. C. LeHew. Mr. Tracy, Sr. died 
three years after buying this farm, willing it to his 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 799 

son. Mr. Tracy also bought other land. As hij 
children became grown and married he started each 
one out with a good farm as a wedding present, 
giving away all but 200 acres. 

Mr. Tracy is a Civil war veteran and a mem-, 
ber of the Presbyterian church. He was married 
April 10, 1867, to Miss Adeline Jeter who died in 
1882 leaving four children: Charles F., Mollie S., 
now Mrs. Marion Legg; Emma E., now Mrs. F. 
G. LeHew, and Tessora, now Mrs. Martin L. Nov- 
inger. 

Mr. Tracy lives three miles north of Trent in, 
with his daughter, Mrs. LeHew. 




RESIDENCE OF FRANK LEHEW 



DR. W. H. WINNINGHAM was born in 
Harrison County, Jan, 26, 1868. He is the son of 



800 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Isom and Nannie (Niell) Winningham. He lived 
in Harrison County until 1880 when the family 
moved to Albany, his father going into the mer- 
cantile business. Dr. Winningham graduated at 
the high schools there, and attended the Stanberry 
Normal, then taught for a short time, reading medi- 
cine with Dr. G. F. Peery in the meantime. He 
then attended Marion Sims medical college, St. 




DR. W .H. WINNINGHAM 



Louis, graduating in 1893, when he came to Grundy 
County and began practice at Edinburg. In 1895 
he came to Trenton where he has since remained. 
He is engaged in the general practice of medicine, 
making a specialty of surgery. He has a private 
sanatarium, where he handles surgical cases. Dr. 
Winningham has taken a number of post graduate 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



801 



courses under leading authorities. He is a mem- 
ber of several fraternal orders. 

He was married Aug. 20, 1895, to Minnie 
Floyd Witten, daughter of Wm. Witten. She died 
Sept. 6, 1899, leaving two children; Elizabeth, born 
Jan. 30, 1897, and Helen, Sept. 5, 1898. 




ANDY WELCH, Constable Trenton Township 

T. N. WITTEN was born in Daviess County, 
Mo., Jan. 25, 1867. He is the son of W. M. and 
Amelia (Gillespie) Witten. He lived on a farm 
until about fourteen years old when he moved to 
Trenton, attended school in the winter and worked 
on the farm in the summer until about eighteen. 
He ran a delivery wagon for Fitterer & Hoffman, 
then in the grocery business, was clerk for a short 
time, then lived on the farm a year, fr^llowing which 
he worked in a store in Jamesport about a year. 



802 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Mr. Witten came from Jamesport to Trenton and 
worked for Fitterer & Crooks a while, then went 
into the grocery business with Newt Rathff, re- 
maining in this business seven years. He then 
entered the hardware business as a member of the 
firm Berry & Witten, afterwards buying Berry's 
interest and organizing the Witten Hardware Co., 
of which he became president and manager. The 
firm does a very extensive business, carrying a large 
stock of all kinds of hardware, vehicles, implements 
etc. Their store is one of the largest hardware 
stores in this part of the state, with 25,000 square 
feet of floor space. 

Mr. Witten was married April 24, 1894 to Miss 
Bessie Stevens, daughter of Judge John S. Stevens. 
They have two children; Louise E., born Feb. 25, 
1895, and McDonald, August 24, 1897. 

W. H. WARREN was born near Laredo, Mis- 
souri, Sept. 6, 1864. He is the son of W. D. and 
Alice Warren. His father was one of the early 
settlers of Grundy County, coming here when he 
was nine years of age. When a small boy Mr. 
Warren moved from Kentucky to a farm five miles 
southwest of Trenton. He lived there with his 
parents until he was twenty-three years of age when 
he went west for one year. Returning, he farmed 
for himself near the home place for several years. 
In 1894 he came to Trenton and went into the liv- 
ery, feed and sale business. He was also in the 
transfer business for a few years. For the past 
few years he has been engaged in the sale and feed 
business at Trenton. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 803 

Mr. Warren was married Nov. 27, 1891 to 
Miss Ida Hill, daughter of Coleman Hill. They 
have two children. Seldon was born Feb. 1, 1896; 
Winnie, Dec. 19, 1897. 




RESIDENCE OF C. B. WILLIAMS 



W. E. WILSON, son of T. A. Wilson, born 
in Mercer County, Oct. 9, 1845 and Elizabeth 
(Sires) Wilson, was born March 21, 1869, in Grun- 
dy County. He was married Aug. 30, 1898 to Belle 
McLaughlin, daughter of Dr. John McLaughlin 
who was born in Green County, Penn., Aug. 26, 
1822, died Aug. 9, 1909 at Spickard after having 
lived in this vicinity fifty years. Her mother was 
Nancy A. (Sullivan) McLaughlin, born in Brown 
County, Indiana, Aug. 8, 1830, died Eeb. 23, 1906. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were educated in the public 
schools of the county. They have four children. 
Estelle was born June 17, 1894; Frankie, July 8, 



804 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



1896; Dewey, Nov. 1, 1898, died Dec. 26, 1903;- 
Mildred, July 25, 1905. Mrs. Wilson was born 
Sept. 22, 1872. 

Mr. Wilson began farming for himself at the 
time of his marriage and has always lived in Grun- 
dy County except the year 1908 when he farmed 
in Mercer County. He is from one of the pioneer 
families of Grundy County. 

GEORGE WOLZ, son of Conrad and Maria 
Wolz, was born on the old Wolz homestead four- 
teen miles northeast of Trenton, May 30, 1842. He 
lived there until March, 1862, when he joined Co. 




RESIDENCE OF GEORGE WOLZ 



I., 3rd M. S. M., and served until April, 1865. He 
again lived on the farm until his marriage, when 
he bought a farm adjoining, where he lived until 
1894 when he moved to Trenton and built an ele- 
gant home on Prospect Street where he still lives, 
continuing, however, to manage his farm of 800 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 805 

acres. He owns a half interest in a 560 acre farm 
near Tindall, his son, Michael, who lives with him, 
owning the other half, a large farm near Excelsior 
Springs, and a ranch in Texas. He is a stock- 
holder in the Bank of Spickardsville, the Citizens 
State Bank, and is interested in other business 
enterprises. 

Mr. Wolz was married March 21, 1869, to 
Martha A. Evans, daughter of John Evans. To 
them were born four children, two of whom are liv- 
ing. Maria, born Jan 3, 1870, is now Mrs. Jacob 
Bride; Wm. C, Oct. 2, 1874, died April 13, 1875; 
John C, Dec. 10, 1871, died April 29, 1889; George 
M., Feb. 21, 1876. Mrs. Wolz died Feb. 12, 1902. 
Mr. Wolz's father came to Grundy County in 1839. 

GEORGE MICHAEL WOLZ, a son of 
George and Martha Evans Wolz was born near 
Tindall, Feb. 21, 1876. He lived on the farm with 
his parents until 1893, when they moved to Tren- 
ton. Mr. Wolz graduated in the Trenton High 
School, took a special course in civil engineering 
under Dr. Norton, later acting as city engineer. 
Soon after leaving school he entered the Farmers 
and Merchants bank as assistant cashier, remain- 
ing in that position several years, then resigning 
on account of his health. In 1904 he helped or- 
ganize the Trenton Brick and Tile Company, and 
was made secretary and manager. The plant is 
a modern one, with a capacity of 20,000 bricks a 
day and a large number of tile. Mr. Wolz devotes 
his time to the management of this business. 

Mr. Wolz was married Dec. 24, 1903, to Miss 



806 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Catherine L. Conrads, daughter of C. A, Conrads. 
They have three children: George Conrad, born 
June 6, 1905, and Francis Donald, March 21, 1908 
and an infant daughter. 

P. G. WILD is a son of William and Caroline 
(Woolsey) Wild. He was born in Grundy County, 
a mile north of Edinburg, Feb. 1, 1864. His people 




RESIDENCE OF P. G. WILD, SPICKARD, MO. 

were among the very first settlers in Grundy Coun- 
ty, coming here in 1834. Mr. Wild attended school 
at the Western Normal College, Shenandoah, Iowa. 
He was married to Josephine, daughter of John 
Munn, of Spickards, Jan. 17, 1892. 

Mr. Wild's parents moved to Mercer County, 
just north of Spickards, in 1865 and he lived there 
until he was twenty-one. During this time he at- 
tended public schools and later took a course at the: 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 807 

Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa. 
On quitting college he returned home and taught 
school for three years. He then went west remained 
several years and was in the employ of the Pacific 
Express Company in eastern Oregon for some time. 
He was with the Oregon and Washington rail- 
road and had charge of the baggage department at 
Spokane, Wash, for a time. He also served as ex- 
press messenger on the Portland and Walla Walla 
and had charge of the baggage department of Pen- 
dleton for about a year. He then gave up his work 
there, returning to Spickard in 1891 where he went 
into the mercantile business. In 1897 he was ap- 
pointed post master at Spickard by Presiden Mc- 
Kinley and has served in that capacity since that 
time, having been twice reappointed. The office 
has grown from a fourth class to a presidential of- 
fice during his administration and he was largely 
instrumental in establishing a rural route system 
through the county. 

WILLIAM E. MARLIN, son of Jas. and Ma- 
ry (Herring) Marlin, was born June 7, 1889. He 
now lives at Brimson, Missouri. He was educated 
in the public schools of Trenton and St. Joseph, Mis- 
souri. 

On Nov. 8, 1908, he was married to Lottie Max- 
son, daughter of Alex Maxson of Brimson. They 
have no children. 

Mr. Marlin was born in Jamesport and lived 
there with his parents until they moved to Trenton, 
where he attended the public schools. After fin- 
ishing school, he farmed near Spickard, then moved 



808 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



to Brimson where he opened a restaurant in 1909. 
He later went into the grocery business, in which he 




O. p. HUBHEI.L 



is now engaged. He also sells clothing and runs 
a restaurant. 

Mr, Marlin is a Republican. 

OTIS E MACK was born in Adams County, 
Illinois, Dec. 20, 1862. He is the son of James 
Mack, who lives with his son, and Alpha Mack, de- 
ceased. He was educated in the public schools. 
Mr. Mack now resides on Route six, Trenton. 

On July 8, 1895 ,Mr. Mack was married to Mary 
Carpenter, daughter of Bart Carpenter. They 
have three children; Howard L., born Nov. 15, 
1896; Vona M., born May 2, 1899; Orlo J., born 
Jan. 19, 1903. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



809 



Mr. Mack came to Grundy County with his par- 
-ents when he was three years of age, settled on a 
farm near Farmersville. They hved there about 
ten years, then moved to the Riley Cox place then to 
the Overton place, then to the Pulliam place, then to 




SILO AT THE JERSEY DAIRY, GEO. W. LYNCH, MANAGER 

the Limes place, then bought the place now owned 
T)y George Lenz. They lived there a number of 
years, then sold that and bought the place where 
the subject of the sketch now lives. Mr. Mack 
left home, when twenty one years old and worked 
in the neighborhood for farmers a few years. He 
"then went to Arizona, where he was engaged in var- 



810 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



ious pursuits. He then went to California, where 
he remained about three years, working for a street 
car company in San Francisco. On his return he 
went to farming and later married. He stayed 
with his father for a few years and bought part of 
the farm. Afterwards bought his present farm 
where he has since lived. His farm consists of 103 
acres is well improved and has a good home. He 
has Duroc Jersey hogs and short horn cattle. Mr, 
Mack is a member of the Masonic lodge and also of 
the Christian church. 




RESIDENCE OF S. A. HARTLEY 



MRS.B. F. MEANS, who lives three and one 
half miles south of Laredo, was born in eastern Ten- 
nessee, March 24, 1845. She was the daughter of 
John T. Wilson, born in Tennessee in 1803, died in 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 811 

1855, and Betsy (Spuriers) Wilson, born in North 
Carolina, July 23, 1800, died May 18, 1871. Mrs 
Means was married to Samuel Hardin, Dec. 11, 
1873. M^- Hardin's father was Joseph Hardin, 
a native of Kentucky, who died in 1869. His moth- 
er was Jane (Davis) Hardin, also a native of Ken- 
tucky, who died in 1895. By her first husband, Mrs. 
Means had one child; Samie O. Hardin, born Feb. 
21, 1875, who married Andrew M. Warren, Aug. 
18, 1892. Mr. Hardin died in 1876. He was 
First Lieut, in the Southern army under Sterling 
Price. 

Mrs. Hardin was married to R. S. Means, Oct. 
31, 1878. Mr. Means' father was James Means» 
who was born in South Carolina, Oct.' 17, 1781 and 
died Jan. 9, 1865. His mother was Matilda (Read) 
Means, who was born in Kentucky, Jan. 16, 1792, 
and died Aug. i, 1865. 

After her second marriage, Mrs. Means and her 
husband lived in Howard County, where they own- 
ed a farm of more than 200 acres, until the spring 
of 1879, when they came to Grundy and settled on 
the present farm of loi acres. Mr. Means died in 
1889, and the farm is managed by Mrs. Means' son 
in law, Mr. A. M. Warren. 

THE BANK OF BRIMSON was organized 
March 31, 1903, with a capital stock of $10,000, 
and has since built up a surplus of $5,000 and paid 
$2800 in dividends. Its first officers were C. H. 
Cullers, president, Joseph S. Neff, vice president, 
Walter Peery, secretary, and G. Jones, cashier. 



812 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Three years later, Mr. Jones moved to Colorado and 
the directors selected Harry G. Moberly, at that 
time assistant cashier of the Farmers Exchange 
Bank at Humphreys as cashier. He had complete 
charge of the Bank's books since that time. At the 
time of accepting this position, Mr. Moberly was the 
youngest bank cashier in the state of Missouri. He 
is a son of George and Kittie (Dobbins) Moberly 
of Humphreys ,Mo. The present officers of the 
bank are Joseph Neff, president, C. D. Thompson, 
first vice president, R. H. Martin, second vice presi- 
dent, Walter Peery, secretary, and Harry Mober- 
ly, cashier. 

JOHN C. NEWMAN, son of John and Rach- 
el Newman, both of whom are dead, was born in 
Shelby County, Indiana, Oct. 19, 1862. He now 
lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools. He was married for the 
first time in 1806 to Effie Bosley, who died Nov. 28, 
1886. They had one child; Lulu B., born Nov. 27, 
1886, now cashier at Steins Store at Trenton. Mr. 
Newman was married again in 1889 to Miss Belle 
Wynne, daughter of John Wynne. They have two 
children. Anna Rachel, born Oct. 3, 1891 and O- 
rion Holt, born Aug. 7, 1893. One child Beulah, 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Newman came with his parents to Missouri 
in 1869, settling in Grundy County southwest of 
Trenton five miles. He lived there until grown 
and married and then went to farming for himself, 
moving to Daviess County. He lived in that coun- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 813 

ty and farmed until 1898, when he moved back to 
Grundy County. He leased a farm near Edinburg 
where he remained five years, then bought his pres- 
ent farm. It is one half mile north of town and 
consists of 20 acres with a beautiful home. He al- 
so owns fifty acres one and a half miles northwest 
of the home place. He served for two terms as 
township collector of Lincoln township, Davies^ 
County, and was also collector for Madison town- 
ship, Grundy County, resigning when he moved out 
of the township. At the next election after the 
township organization law was declared invalid, he 
was elected county collector and served until town- 
ship organization was re-established. 

He is a member of the Baptist church. Mrs. 
Newman is a member of the Methodist church. 

ARTHUR OYLER, son of Jacob and Rachel 
Oyler, both of whom are dead, was bora Aug. 19, 
1865 in Miami County, Indiana. He now lives on 
Route seven, Trenton. He was educated in the 
public schools. 

He was married Sept. 9, 1888 to Ida L. Bulyar. 
They have five children; Beulah V., born Feb. i, 
1891 ; Lionel A., Aug. 15, 1892; Garnet E., Sept. 11, 
1899; V. Clifton, July 17, 1904, and Madolyn B., 
June 7, 1906. 

Mr. Oyler left Indiana and moved to St. Clair 
County when about four years of age. He lived 
there two years then moved to Grundy County and 
settled near Trenton, where they remained two 
years, then moved near Edinburg and lived there 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 815 

with his parents until grown and married. He then 
went to farming for himself, moving first to Daviess 
County, where he remained one year. He then re- 
turned to Grundy County and bought his present 
farm, three and one half miles northeast of Brim- 
son, It consists of 165 acres and is well improved. 
Mr. Oyler also owns 160 acres near Parkerton, and 
60 acres near Edinburg, and 40 acres near Trenton, 
425 acres in all. He also has a lot of Texas land, 
buys and ships stock extensively, and is interested 
in various business enterprises. 




RESIDENCE OF F- W. LEE 



D. E. PEW is the son of George C. and Jane 
Brooks Pew. He was born in Wilson township, 
Grundy County, Sept. 25, 1875. He now lives four 
miles southeast of Laredo. He was educated in the 
public schools of the county and William Jewell Col- 
lege. 



816 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

He was married Sept. 6, 1899 ^o Bertha Rinker^ 
daughter of James H. Rinker, born in Indiana, and 
Anna (Bell) Rinker, born in Illinois. Mrs. Pew 
was born Aug. i, 1879. They have two children; 
Ruby Virginia., born June 10, 1901, and Francis 
Vivian., born April 4, 1903. 

Mr. Pew, after completing the common schools, 
went to William Jewell College. He then farmed 
for two years, then in Aug. 1899, he engaged in the 
hardware business at Laredo. The next year, he 
sold out and went to his fine farm of 240 acres. 

Mrs. Pew completed the public schools of La- 
redo, then attended the Chillicothe Normal. 

Mr. Pew is a Democrat in politics. 

W. R. YOUNG is a son of Andrew J. and Me- 
lissa (Goss) Young. His father was born in Mis- 
souri in 1845 ^i^d died in 1899. His mother was 
born in 1850. Mr. Young was born in Linn Coun- 
ty, Sept. 15, 1879. He lives five miles south of 
Laredo. He was married March 15, 1905 to Miss 
Anna B. Hazen, daughter of Wm. and America 
(Ishmael) Hazen. Mrs. Young was born Jan. 
4, 1882. They are the parents of three children. 
Zelma C, was born Dec. 25, 1905; Mary B., April 
22, 1907; Richard M., born Aug. 7, 1908, died 
March 3, 1909. 

Mr. Young has always lived on a farm. He 
lived for a time in Linn County, moving from that 
county to the farm he now owns. He favors the 
Democratic party. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



SIT 




DR. H. E. HALL. 



G. F. DE \^ORE was born in Washington 
County, Ohio Sept. 15, 1868. He now hves three 
miles west of Laredo. He was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Ohio. His father was Dallas J. De 
Vore, born in Jefferson County, Ohio in 1845. ^^^ 
mother was Emily (Curry) De Vore, born in Ohio 
in 1846. Mr .De Vore was married May 20, 1894 
to Euphrosine V. Puget, born Dec. 17, i860 in New- 
York City. She was the daughter of Felix Puget^ 
born in France in 1813, died in 1894, and Mary 
(Mil) Puget, born in France July 20, 1843 and died 
June 13, 1909. 

Mr. De Vore came to Grundy County when twen- 
ty 3^ears old and began working for a Mr. Meech as 
a farm hand, but after one and one half jfcars, he 



Sl^ HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

fanned for himself for two years then sold out, went 
to Montana and worked on a ranch. He then went 
to San Francisco and worked on a ranch for three 
years, married while there and came back in iSijj 
to old Grundy and began farming in the locality of 
Rabl)it Ridg-e. Mr. De Vore landed in (Grundy with 
only $4.95. but has accumulated enough to purchase 
one of the finest farms in the county. Tn ])olitics 
he favors the Democratic partv. 

HEXR\' HORTEXSTJXE, who now resides 
t^^•o miles southwest of Laredo, was born Feb. 4, 
1842. in Washington County, \'^irginia. He was 
educated in the public schools of \"irginia and Illi- 
nois. He was married Aug. 21, 1S64, to Katie E. 
Gardner, born May 15, 1S45. Her parents were 
Adam Gardner and Elizabeth ( Schmit ) Gardner. 
Mr. Hortenstine's parents were Henrv Hortenstine, 
born in X'irginia July 7, iSoo and died Aug. 17, 
18SS, and Theodosia W. Ellington Hortenstine, 
born in X'irginia April S, 1S21, and died Feb. 3, 
1900. 

Thev have six children. Edward, born Se])t. 4 
1865, died Oct. 8. 1877: Theodocia E., Oct. 30, 
1866: J. F. Feb. 14, 1868: Mary \\, March 2, 1869, 
died Nov. 2y, 1892: and Walter \'., Dec. 4, 1870. 

J\Ir. Hortenstine worked as ai)])rentice and learn- 
ed the milling trade, following it for six years. 
He then went to Illinois and broke prairie with pn 
ox team for six years. In 1864, he prepared him- 
self for a music teacher and taught music for 
twelve vears. In 1888 he came to Livingston 



820 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

County and bought a farm of 40 acres, sold it af- 
terward, and moved to Grundy County and bought 
120 acres. He and his son are partners in the 
dairy business. They have two cows which took 
the first premium at the National Dairyman As- 
sociation at Chicago in 1907. He is a member 
of the Christian church and I. O. O. F. No. 133 at 
Laredo. 

G. T. JACKSON, son of Wm. and Julia Jack- 
son, was born in Grundy County, June 2^, 1867. 
He has always lived in Grundy County. At pres- 
ent, he resides on a farm in Alyers township. He 
Vv'as united in marriage to ?\Iary Evans, daughter 
of Le-^nder and ^,1. J. Evans in 1891. To this un- 
ion one child was born, Wilbur E. Airs. Jackson 
died May 30, 1892. He was again united in mar- 
iage to Mary A. Ford, daughter of John B. and 
Sarah A. Ford, June 3, 1894. To this union seven 
children have been born ; Lucille, born April 7, 
1895; Lorene, born Jan. 18, 1897; Lelia B., born 
Jan. 17, 1901 ; Gladys, born Nov. 3, 1903; an infant 
son, born Dec. 31, 1905, died Jan. 5, 1906; J. Olan, 
w^as born April 8, 1907. 

Mr. Jackson was educated in the common 
schools, Kirksville Normal and Park College. He 
spent about twelve years as dry goods and clothing 
salesman in Gait and Trenton, served six year as 
clerk and assessor of Liberty township and was 
elected a member of the county court from the sec- 
ond district, Aug. 3, 1908. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 821 

J. E. JACKSON, son of Jasper and Martha 
Jackson, was born in Ray County, Missouri, Aug. 
1 5' 1879- ^^ "o^^' lives on Route seven, Trenton, 
Mo. He was married March i8, 1899 to Mrs. 
Mary Boyce, daughter of Wm. Chappell. They 
have two children; Mattie Fay. born Oct. 5, 1904, 
and Garnett Pauline, born July 2;^, 1907. Mrs. 
Jackson was first married to Jesse Boyce and has 
one child by him. Miss Daisy Boyce, who makes 
her home with Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. She was 
born Feb. 25, 1895. 

Mr. Jackson was born in Ray County on a farm 
and moved with his parents to Grundy County 
when about ten years old. He lived with his par- 
ents until grown and then went to Livingston Coun- 
ty and remained four years, engaged in farming. 
He then returned to this county where he has since 
lived. He bought his present farm in 1898, where 
he has lived, except for two years when he rented 
his farm and was in business at Tindall. The 
farm consists of 40 acres, seven miles northwest 
of Trenton. Mr. Jackson belongs to the Odd Fel- 
lows and the M. \\'. A. Mrs. Jackson is a member 
of the Baptist church. 

ANDY v.. KTLBURN was born in Wilson 
township, Grundy County, Missouri, Fel). 17, 1878. 
He now lives three miles north of Chula. He was 
educated in the public schools of the county. He 
was the son of Henry Kilburn of Kentucky and 
Sarah F. (Moore) Kilburn of Missouri. 

]\^r. Kill-urn was married Feb. 24, 1897 to Zella 




MR. AND MRS. ANDY KILBURN. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 823 

E. Bruce, born Oct. 30, 1(876. She was the daugh- 
ter of Ouincy R, Bruce of Ohio and Mary J. 
(Smith) Bruce of Missouri. They have no child- 
ren. Mrs. Kilburn completing the public schools 
of the county took a literary and musical course at 
Hardin College, Mexico, Mo. Mr. Kilburn was 
left (|uite young to manage the business which was 
left him at his father's death. At the age of 
eighteen he married and still looked after the farm, 
and after five years, he moved to what is now his 
home. Mr. Kilburn inherited a 160 acre farm 
from his father but since has accumulated more 
until he has an excellent farm of 320 acres, one of 
the best improved in the county. He is today one 
of Grundy's greatest feeders, handles high class 
Herefords and has prepared for the business by 
building a large cattle barn. 

In politics he is a Democrat. He belongs to the 
Baptist church. 

JAMES T. KILBURN, born at Baker City, 
Oregon, Oct. 3, i<S65, who now lives three and one, 
half miles southwest of Laredo is the son of John 
Kilburn, born in Missouri Feb. i (8,1841, and Anna 
(\\^arren) Kilburn, born in Kentucky Oct. 5, 1(841. 
The latter died Feb. 7. 18(88. He was educated in 
the pul)lic schools of the county. He was married 
Jan. 6. 1(885 to Correnia L Owen, daughter of Mil- 
ford and Malcena (Lightner) Owen. Mr. Owen 
died April 11, 1904, and Mrs. Owen died June ly, 
188 V Mrs. Kilburn was born :\Iarch i, 1(863. Mr. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 825 

-and Mrs. Kilburn have one child, Von L., born Nov. 
22, 1887. 

The subject of this sketch after completing- the 
public schools of the county went two years to the 
State Normal at Kirksville, returning to his fath- 
er's home at the age of eighteen. Soon after, he 
married and commenced housekeeping where he 
now resides. The farm's improvements were very 
simple at that time, but at present Mr. Kilburn has 
one of the finest residences and best improved farms 
in the county. He has accumulated land until his 
farm is among the largest in the county. Mr. Kil- 
burn is one of Grundy County's most extensive feed- 
ers. To look at his farm and see the number of 
outbuildings, one at once knows him to be one of the 
most progressive farmers in our county. 

J. B. KILBURN, who now lives four and one 
half miles northwest of Chula, is a son of Henry 
Kilburn, a native of Kentucky, and Sarah (Moore) 
Kilburn, a native of Missouri. He was born in 
Wilson township, Grundy County, June lo. 1881. 
He was educated in the public schools of the coun- 
ty. 

He was married to Minnie Parkhurst, daughter 

of Elijah Parkhurst, Jan. 14, 1900. They have 
one child, Edgar B., born June 27, 1904. Mrs. 
Kilburn was born in Green County, Dec. 7, 1880. 
Mr. Kilburn after completing the common 
schools, started his life's work at seventeen years 
of age and one year later married and settled on 
the farm where he was born. He has one of the 



826 



HISTORY OF GRU.NDY COUNTY. 



best farms in the county, consisting of 324 acres. 
He feeds cattle (juite extensively and is (jne of the 
county's most progressive farmers. He can well 
be proud of being the grand son of one of our most 
respected citizens and the oldest pioneer of Grundy 
County, Uncle Jacky Moore. Mr. Kilburn has at 
present the deepest well in the county, it being over 
500 feet deep and the drilling not complete. He is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 524 at Chula and 
the M. \y. A. No. 5505. Tn ])olitics he favors the 
Democratic ])arty. ffl 




RESIDENCE OF J. H. CI.AYPOLE. 



IRA J. KTLBURN is the son of David Kil- 
burn. who was born in Kentucky, March 12, 1832, 
and died March 18, 1905, and Elizabeth (Jackson) 
Kilburn, born in Missouri, in 1838 and died Feb. 14, 



HISTORY OF (JRUNDY COUNTY 827 

1904. He was born in Wilson township, (irundy 
County, Nov. 2, 1863. He now lives three miles 
southwest of Laredo. He was married Oct. 17, 
1894 to Flora Pay ton, who w^as born JMarch 5, 
1874. Her parents were (leo. W. Payton and 
Mary A. (Cook) Payton. They have three child- 
ren; (iladys L., born July 20, 1895; Ivittie C, born 
Sept. 23, 1897: and Keith Payton, born March 6, 
1905. 

Mr. Kilburn completed the common schools and 
went to Edinburg- College. Afterwards he took 
up farming" at his old home place until two vears 
after his marriage, when he moved to the farm he 
now owns. This ])lace was then without any im- 
provements whatever. At ])resent he has one of 
the neatest farms of 160 acres in the county. He 
is a man in every respect progressive and takes the 
greatest interest in the schools of his community. 
Mrs. (Payton) Kill)urn after completing the 
schools of the county went to the Chillicothe Nor- 
mal preparing for teaching" and afterwards taught 
in this countv for a numlier of years. 

WILLIAM F. LAYSON, son (^f Wm. W. and 
Elizabeth Layson, the former of whom li\'es with 
his son and the latter of whom is dead, was born in 
Harrison County, Mo., Dec. 20, 1868. He now 
lives on Route six, Trenton, Mo. 

He was married [an. ly, 1892 to Sarah J. Lisby, 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Lisby. She was 
born Xo^^ 3, 1873 in Grundy County. They have 
three children : Eva C, born Jan. 2, 1894; C. Dew^ey 



828 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



"^^^mM^ 


^^^^^BPR^^i|||^^^^H 


■■■■'■■■; ■■ " -■■- ^^m 


r-''1ictlC^^ 







RESIDENCE OF W. C. BET.L. 



born Feb. 4, 1898; and Erma F., born Sept. 15, 
1904. 

Mr. Layson was born and reared on a farm in 
Harrison County and Hved there with his parents 
until he was twenty years old. He then went to 
Oklahoma to the opening and was one of the "soon- 
ers" but remained only a few months. He then 
returned to Grundy County and went to farming 
for himself. He has been in Lincoln townships 
and has leased several farms, being in the same 
neighborhood practically all of the time. He 
leased the old Henry Lisby homestead, now belong- 
ing to A. J. Lisby, and has been there since 1906. 
He also has other adjoining land rented. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



829 




GEO. BAIRD. 



J. G. LENZ was l3orn in Hocking" County, O- 
hio. He is the son of Philip and Rosanna Lenz. 
He was horn Feh. 2, 1862. Mr. Lenz now resides 
on Route six, Trenton. On Oct. 14, 1887, he was 
married to Carrie Hildebrand, daughter of John 
Hildebrand. Mrs. Lenz was born Sept. 26, 1870. 
They have three children; Bernice, March 21, 1889, 
now Mrs. W. T. Marrs, Stockton, Calif.; Gladys, 
born July 21, 1893 now at home, and Merrill, Jan. 
21, 1909. 

The subject of the sketch was born on a farm in 
Ohio and came from there to Grundy County with 
his parents when eight years old, and settled on a 
farm four miles northeast of Tindall, where he lived 
until erown. When he was married, he went to 



830 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

fanning and bought a farm in the "Forks." He 
stayed there five years and then sold that and pur- 
chased his present phice, nine miles northeast of 
Trenton in east Lincoln township. His farm con- 
sists of 1 60 acres, well improved, with a pretty 
home. He handles Shorthorn cattle, and does 
general farming and stock raising. He is a mem- 
ber of the Odd Fellow lodge and the Presbyterian 
church. 

J(3HN AIC CLATN was born Aug. 8, 1867, 
in Henry Count}-, 111., He now lives two and three 
fourths miles southwest of Laredo. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Henry County, 111., 
His father, Robert McClain, was born in Ireland, 
in 1823 and died in March 1885. His mother Le- 
onora (McKay) McClain, was l)orn in Ireland in 
if>2i) and died in March 1905. 

A'r. McClain was married Oct. 10, 1894 to jMar- 
garet Hornecker. She was the daughter of Fer- 
dinnnd Hornecker, horn in Cermany and Marguar- 
ite (Usckel) Hornecker, born in August 1853 and 
died in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. McClain have six 
children; Charles F., born Sept. 12, 1895; Robert 
L., and Leonora M., born Ai)ril i, 1897; John, born 
April 2'/, 1899; Edward. 1:orn April 19, 1905; and 
James, born May 23, 1909. 

A'^r. >'cClain staved at home and worked for his 
parents until he was twenty one years old. then he 
and his brother rented the home farm for five years 
then bouo-ht a farm of 90 acres in Illinois, seven 



HISTORY OF GRUXDY COUNTY 



831 



years later selling- it and moving to Alooresville, Mo. 
In 1902, he l)ought 200 acres and sold it the same 
year, and went to Kansas and Oklahoma hunting 
for land but could find nothing as good as Grundy 
County, so he bought 135 acres here and later pur- 
chased 98 acres, having now a well improved farm 
of 233 acres. 

Mr. McClain's boys from the oldest to the voung- 
est are natural meclianics. Mr. McClain is a Dem- 
ocrat and b-elono-s to the Lutheran cliurch. 




W. S. MC CAULL. 



\\'rLLTAM SEWARD MCCAUL was born 
in Chicago, Sept. 20, 1864. He was raised on a 
farm in Decatur County, Iowa and taught school 
in the country schools of Iowa for four years. At 



832 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

nine years of age, he sold newspapers on the streets 
of Chicago and at twenty nine, returning to Chi- 
cago, he was attorney for the same paper. 

Air. ^icCaull has been a reporter and editorial 
writer on the staff of the Des Moine (Iowa) Daily 
News, the Dubuque (Iowa) Daily Herald, the Ce- 
dar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette, the Denver (Colorado) 
Times and the Joliet (111.) Press. He served four 
years as justice in Joliet, 111., He was later a part- 
ner with Judge Longenecker, the noted criminal 
attorney W'ho prosecuted the murderers of Dr, 
Cronin. Ten years ago he quit Judge Longeneck- 
er's office and came to Missouri, taking charge of 
the claim departm.en of the Q. O. & K. C. While 
in Missouri, he organized the Iowa tS^ St. Louis 
Railroad Company and got the Gates crowd back 
of it. They built fifty two miles and sold it to the 
C. B. & O. He worked for four years managing- 
the Great Northern Fuel Co., and developed five 
mines in the Xovinger field, now the largest coal 
producers in Missouri. Mr. McCaul was a Ben 
Butler Democrat, but since 1896, he has been a Mc 
Kinley, Teddy and Taft Republican. He is mar- 
ried and has three children, the family residence 
being in Joliet, 111., While in Missouri, he makes 
Trenton one of his principal stopping places, with 
headquarters at the Elks Hotel. He is a member 
of the Elks and K. P. lodges and the Episcopal 
church. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



833 




RESIDENCE OF G. W. FREY. 



WM. A. PEW, son of George C. and Jane 
(Brooks) Pew, was born in Wilson township, Grun- 
'iy County, Jan. 12, 1868. His father was a native 
of Kentucky and was born Nov. 6, 1842. His 
mother was born in Missouri, May 30, 1852. Air. 
Pew now hves five miles southeast of Laredc). 

He was married Feb. 6, 1889 to Elizabeth R. 
Chapman, daughter of Rice W. Chapman of New 
York and Ellen (Taggart) Chapman, horn in Mich- 
igan Sept. IT, 1849. Mrs. Pew was born March 
29, 1872. They have four children; Vina F., born 
Feb. 2, 1893 ; George W,. born March 27, 1896; Bil- 
iie M., born March 9, J004; and Martha W,. born 
Feb. 22, 1907. 

Mr. Pew began farming on the farm he now owna 
when he was twenty one years of age. Then it con- 



^f HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

.' ...tc(' of only eighty ?cres, but he has accumulated 
lanu uiitil be now owns 175 acres, 90 acres of which 
are in T .inn County. He is a feeder of stock, a Demo- 
crat and a member of the Baptist church. 

JOHN PORTMAN, son of Morris and Lizzie 
(Long-; Portman ,the former of whom was born in 
Switzerbiud and died in 1852 and the latter of whom 
was born in Switzerland and died in 1838, now lives 
four and one half mile:-' souipeast of Laredo and wa.'.- 
lj'_'rn in Switzcriand Feb. 22, 1828. He was edu- 
cate' m the srliools of Switzerlanr. He was fii'.^t 
married to Saliie Ker.^, daughter <A Alike and L(»u- 
ise Kemp, ijo'Ii of wliom were born in Switzerland. 
They had no children. He was married to Earma. 
Kissling, daughter of Joseph and Beatrice (Red) 
Kissling, both of whom were natives of Switzer- 
land, Sept. 27, 18 4. They had four children, one 
of whom is living, Morris Portman. 

Mr. Portman came to this country from Switzer- 
land in 1849. H^ lived in Madison County, Illi- 
nois until 1852, then went to St Joseph and in 1853, 
went to California. Mr. Portman was a miller* 
He came back to Illinois in 1857 and bought a farm, 
selling it before the breaking out of the war. He 
then came to Missouri, bought a 200 acre farm in 
Linn County and 190 acres in Wilson township, 
Grundy County. 

''Uncle John" is one of the oldest persons in the 
county and is well known throughout the county, 
He is eighty one years of age, but is enjoying good 
health. 



HISTORY OP GRUNDY COUNTY 



835 




RESIDENCE OF W. C. CRAWFORD. 



B. D. PROCTOR, son of Joseph and Mary 
Proctor, both of whom are dead, was born in Mer- 
cer County, Kentucky, Dec. 17, 1857. He r. 3w 
hves on Route one, Trenton. He was educated iti 
the pubhc schools. He was married Oct. 14, iS8t 
to Martha J. Evans, daughter of Joseph and Jpcrie 
Evans. Mrs. Proctor was born on a farm neir 
Paint Lick church, March 19, 1863. They have 
had four children. Rosa Ethel, born Aug. 14, 1886, 
died May 14, 1889; Gijlbert R., born Nov. 17, 18^$, 
at home; Edna J., Nov. 6, 1892, died a month later; 
Wayne C, April 15, 1894. 

■ Mr. Proctor was born on a farm in Kentucky l)ut 
pioved to Grundy County with his parents whefi 
eight years old. They settled near Tindall, lived 
there with his parents until grown and married and 
went to farming for himself. The next year, he 



S36 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



purchased a farm near Spickard, where he hved 
three years. , He then sold that farm and bought 
his present farm adjoining Paint Lick church. In 
the spring of 1905, he bought the De Laney farm 
near Trenton and moved there leasing his other 
farm and moved backed to the old place, but shortly 
after sold this farm to O. A. Pickett, and bought 
the old Dunlap place south of Trenton. The farm 
consists of 200 acres and is one of the best in the 
county. 




RESIDENCE OF W. R. COIT. 



THOMAS RATLIFF, son of Marcellus and 
Sarah Ratliff , was born in Grundy County, May zy^ 
1 87 1. He now lives on Route seven, Trenton. 

Mr. Ratliff was married Feb. 11, 189410 Laura 
Thompson, daughter of Dennis and Margaret 
Thompson, the latter of whom is dead. Mrs. Rat- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 837 

lift" lived in Kansas until sixteen years old, when she 
moved to Grundy County with her parents.. Mr. 
and Airs. Ratliff have three children. Clarence E.> 
born May 4, 1896; Cletus F., born July 8, 1899; and 
Martin D., born Jan. 13, 1903. 

Mr. Ratliff was born and reared on a farm near 
Parkerton. not far from where he now lives. He 
remained with his parents until grown and married 
when he went to farming- for himself, having pur- 
chased a part of the farm he now owns, just before 
his marriage. He first bought 74 acres and later 
added other land adjoining until he has at present 
215 acres. He handles cattle, sheep and hogs ex- 
tensively. 

Mr. Ratliff is a member of the M. W. A. lodge. 

C. C. THOMAS was born in Howard County, 
Missouri, Feb. 22, 1844. He was educated in the 
public schools of Howard County. He now lives^ 
three miles south of Laredo. His father, Wm. 
Thomas, a native of Kentucky, was born July 4, 
181 3 and died Feb. 10, 1889. His mother was Rachei 
(Woods) Thomas, born in Missouri Feb. 7, 1823 
and died July 2J, 1890. 

He was married May 15, 1870 to Henrieta Han- 
cock, W'hose father was Francis Hancock, born in 
Virginia, July 22, 1815, and died May 13, 1S75, 
and whose mother was Susan (Browning) Han- 
cock, born in Kentucky, May 3, 1823 and died 
March 12, 1861. They have had five children; Wm. 
F., born Jan. 29, 1871 ; John E., July 29, 1872; Ma- 



838 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



^^nsj' 










^|ii»i jv#i 




RESIDENCE OF ISAAC ELLIOTT. 



ry A., Nov. 6, 1874; Lucy Augusta, Aug. 10, 1876, 
and Ira P., Aug. 7, 1883. 

^ Mr. Thomas started his hfe as a farm hand in 
]V(issouri at eighteen years of age. After three 
y^ars, he was apprenticed as a blacksmith at Alpha 
for Francis Hancock. He then farmed for C. L. 
y/oods, then in 1872, bought the place upon which 
lie now lives. He enlisted Aug. 20, 1864 in Co. K. 
44th Missouri Volunteers, under Capt. N. A. Win- 
ters. He is a typical Missourian and is at present 
enjoying the best of health, but has lost his eye 
sight. He is one of the best spellers in the county. 

r Mr. Thomas is a Republican and a member of 
the A. F. & A. M. lodge. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 839 



JOHN F. FULKERSON, who lives on Route 
seven, Trenton, Missouri, was born near Brimson, 
Grundy County, March 8, 1884. He is the son 
of Joshua and Margaret Fulkerson, both of whom 
are dead. He was educated in the pubhc schools 
and High school of Trenton, and took a course in 
agriculture in the Missouri State University. 

He was born and reared on a farm near Brimson. 
He remained at home until the death of his mother 
in 1886, when he was taken to Lafayette County, 
Missouri, where he made his home with his uncle, 
Craig Fulkerson. He remained there four years, 
then came back to Grundy County and lived there 
with his father until the death of the latter in 1893. 
He lived with his brothers and sisters until grown, 
attending Grand River College at Edinburgh, the 
Trenton High School and the State University. At 
the death of his father, his estate was divided. In 
1906, Mr. Fulkerson sold his interest in the homq 
place and bought his present farm. It is eight 
miles northwest of Trenton and consists of 120 
^cres, well improved. He raises Poland China 
hogs, fine cattle, horses, etc.. 

He has never married. 

K , , JOHN T. GOTT was born in Montgomery 
if^punty, Indiana, Oct. 15, 185 1. His father was 
P-obert Gott, who died fifteen years ago and his 
toother is Eliza J. Gott who lives in the county. Mr. 
Gott now lives on Route seven, Trenton, Mo. He 
v^as married April 11, 1875 to Sarah J. Hawver, 



840 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



daughter of Daniel Hawver. She was born in O- 
hio, Oct. 13, i860 and came to Grundy County in 
1867. They have had six children, three of whom 
are living. 

Mr. Gott came with his parents, to Grundy Coun- 
ty in 1868 and settled near Jamesport, where they 
bought a farm. He lived there with his parents 
until married, when he went into the saw^ mill busi- 
ness. He was in the railroad business for a few 
years, then returned to the farm. He has leased 
a number of farms in the county. In 1898, he went 
to work with S. G. Witten, taking the management 
of his farm, later leasing it. He has lived there 
since. The farm consists of 100 acres, two miles 
due north of Trenton. 




RESIDENCE OF L. C. LEMLEY. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 841 

GRANT GEORGE, son of Wash and Nancy 
George, was born in Pike County, Illinois, April 3, 
1866. He now lives on Route six, Trenton ,Mo. 
He was educated in the public schools. 

He was married Sept. 20, 1898 to Rosetta Prof- 
fitt, daughter of John Proffitt, living near Tindall. 
Mrs. George was born in Grundy County, twelve 
miles north of Trenton, Sept. 22, 1879. 

The subject of this sketch left Illinois when he 
was about five years old coming to Grundy Coun- 
ty with his parents. They settled on a farm just 
east of the county farm, where they lived about fif- 
teen years, when they moved back to Illinois and 
both died soon after. Mr. George returned to Illi- 
nois with them, remaining until their death. He 
then came back to Grundy County where he lived 
until 1892, when he went to North Dakota, remain- 
ing six years, engaged in farming. When he re- 
turned to Grundy, he went to farming. For the 
past three years, he has been working for O. K. 
Brown, running the Brown place, five miles north- 
east of Grundy Center church. It consists of 200 
acres. 

Mr, and Mrs. George have two children; Vergil 
L., born July 2, 1901, and Raymond, born March 
29, 1904. 

C. A. HOISINGTON was born in Davis County, 
Iowa, April 27, 1850. He now lives on Route sev- 
en, Trenton, Mo. He w^as the son of J. W. Hois- 
ington who died in 1866, and Lydia Eddy Hoising- 
ton, who died in 1872. 



842 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



-.;!TT 




J. C. NICHOLS. 



Mr. Hoisington was married Jan. 2S, 1877 to 
Mary E. Gooch, who was born Oct. 2, 1859, in 
Grundy County. They have two children; Lydia 
E., born Nov. 26, 1877, now Mrs. Thomas Miller 
of Parkerton, and Celina A., born Sept. 30, 1881, 
now Mrs. T. E. Hatfield of Trenton. 

Mr. Hoisington moved with his parents to Ohio 
when a boy and remained there two years, then re- 
turned to the old home in Iowa, where they lived 
and farmed until 1865. They were also in the mer- 
cantile business for a few years. They then came 
to Grundy County, where his father bought the 
farm now owned by S. A. Lauderback, near Park- 
erton. The father died a vear later. Mr. Hois- 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 843 

ington lived at home and helped care for his moth- 
er until her death in 1872. He then went to farm- 
ing for himself and later married. He farmed 
in the forks of the river unm'1890, when they went 
to South Dakota, where they lived eight years, buy- 
ing a ranch there and selling it, when they moved 
back to Missouri. In 1907, they moved to the 
Brush farm near Parkerton. They own no farm 
land at present, but have property in Trenton. 
They were in South Dakota at the time of the last 
Indian uprising and had some thrilling experiences. 
In Feb. 1865, Mr. Hoisington joined Co. D. 51st 
Mo. Infantry and remained until hostilities ceased. 
He was only sixteen years old when he entered and 
saw but little active service. 

DENNIS THOMPSON, son of Joseph and 
Mary (Askern) Thompson, both of whom are dead, 
was born in Harrison County, Indiana, May 6, 1844, 
He was educated in the public schools. He was 
n;iarried Dec. 8, 1867 to Margaret J. Hume. Mrs. 
Thompson was born in Lawrens County, Indiana, 
Feb. 5, 1844, and died July 3, 1886. Mr. Thomp- 
spn never re-married. They had eight children, 
s^yen of whom are living. Joseph L., was born 
Nov„,i.i, 1868, died Sept. 25, 1877; Ira A., born Dec. 
6, 1869, teaching in Montana; Laura J., born Jan. 
8, 1872, now Mrs. Thomas Ratliff ; Heman E., born 
July 17, 1875, lawyer at Webb City; William D., 
born June 14, 1877, lives in Grundy County; Charles 
H., born March 31, 1879, lives at home; Nora A., 



844 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 




HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 845 

born Jan. 5, 1884, lives at home; Mary M,. born 
July 2, 1886, now Mrs. Woodson Ratliff. 

Mr. Thompson left Indiana with his parents when 
he was about ten years old and moved to Iowa, 
where they remained one year, moving to Clark 
County, Mo. He lived there on a farm with his 
parents until the breaking out of the war, joining 
first the home guards, serving until they disbanded, 
being under Col. Moore, then joined the 2d Mo. S. 
M. serving about a year under Col. John McNeal, 
then joined Co. C. 3rd Iowa Cavalry and served un- 
til the close of the war. He was in many engage- 
ments but was never wounded. He was with Gen. 
Wilson's command which captured Jeff Davis, who 
was a distant relative. At the close of the war he 
returned to Clark County and lived with his parents 
until his marriage in 1867. He farmed in Clark 
County until 1870, then went to southern Kansas, 
where he remained until 1888, then came to Grundy 
County. He lived near the county farm for three 
years, then in 1891 bought his present farm, a part 
of the Ratliff farm, and has lived there since. He 
has been Justice of the Peace and member of the 
township board for fourteen years. He takes a 
deep interest in education and has one of the pretti- 
est homes in the county. He is a member of Jacob 
Smith Post G. A. R. at Trenton. 

S. F. TIBBETTS, son of Samuel and Drexie 
Smith Tibbetts, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, June 
2, 1854. He now lives on Route seven, Trenton, 
Mo. He was married Feb. 3, 1881 to Rosina West- 



846 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 

fall who was born in Maynard County, 111., April 22, 
1858. They have had eight children, seven of 
whom are living; B. O., born Nov. 6, 1 881, at home; 
Harry, born June 13, 1883, married and lives in the 
county; Laura B., born April 3, 1885; Glenn E., 
born Feb. 6, 188S, married and lives in the county; 
Ross, born Feb. 5, 1890; Myrtle C, born Feb. 25, 
1892; Chloe F., born March 2, 1895. O"^ child 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Tibbetts lived at home with his parents until 
he was eighteen years old and then started out for 
himself. He worked on a farm for several years, 
married and started farming for himself. He lived 
in Des Moines County until thirty one years old and 
then moved to Keokuk Coimty where he remained 
nine years. In 1894, he moved to Grundy County. 
He lived for four years south of town, five years 
north of town and six years on the present farm, 
which is six miles northeast of Trenton, in Harrison 
township. It is owned by Clay McH argue and con- 
sists of 324 acres. 

WILLIAM UHRMACHER, son of Nicholas 
and Catharina Uhrmacher, the former of whom 
lives near Chillicothe and the latter of whom is dead^ 
was born in Hartford, Wisconsin, Oct. 16, 1863. 
He now lives on Route six, Trenton. 

He was married March 4, 1896 to Miss Louisa 
Schoor, daughter of Peter Schoor. They have five 
children; Charles H., born Jan 22, 1897; Hester K., 
born Oct. 7, 1898; Nellie C, born June 29, 1900-; 
Mafcel E., Nov. 18, 1905 and Walter H., born Sept. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 847 

3, 1907. Mrs. Uhrmacher was born at Quincy. 
III., Dec. 15, 1S69 and moved with her parents to 
Livingston Counlv when small. 

Mr. Uhrmacher was the son of a shoemaker and 
was born at the town of Hartford, where he lived 
until he was five years of age when they moved to 
Livingston County where his father bought a farm 
and went to farming. The subject of this sketch 
lived until he was grown and married when he 
went to farming for himself, remaining there one 
year when he came to Grundy County. He leased 
land for a few years. In 1908, he ^^ought his pres- 
ent farm, which consists of too acres and is twelve 
miles northeast of Trenton. He does general farm- 
ing and stock raising. He is a memb.er of the Odd 
Fellow lodge. 

ELMER H. WOLF is a son of Levi and Eliza- 
beth Wolf. His father is dead, his mother living. 
Mr. Wolf was born in Grundy county near Spick- 
ards, Mo., Dec. 27, 1875. ^^ "^^^ ^^^^^ "^^^ Tren- 
ton. He was married to Alice Monk March 14, 
1896. She is a daughter of William Monk. They 
have three children; Cloyce H., born December 7, 
1897; Opal, October 9, 1898; Gilbert E., June 2, 
19O2. 

';' ^ 'Mr. Wolf lived on a farm near Spickard with 
his step-father, W. H. Newton, until grown. Hj^ 
father died when he was quite young. He went to 
farming for himself on a farm west of Spickard, 
where he lived for a number qf years. He sold this 
farm and in 1899 bought his, present farm of 



848 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY. 



one hundred and fifteen acres, on which he now 
lives. He handles pure bred short horn cattle and 
other fine stock. Mr. Wolf is a member of the 
K. of P. lodge. Both he and Mrs. Wolf are mem- 
bers of the Methodist church. Mrs. Wolf was born 
in Grundy County, September 5, 1878. 




R. V. YOUNG. 



RANSOM V. YOUNG was born in Hiram, 
Ohio, May 9th, 1840. He attended Hiram College 
and was a pupil of former President Gar- 
field. Mr. Young enlisted in Company A., 42nd' 
Ohio Infantry at the outbreak of the war, and serv- 
ed three years. He served under Garfield, the latter 
being Colonel of his regiment. He was in the bat- 
tle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Vicksburg, first attack on 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY S49 

Arkansas Post, below Vicksburg, and others of the 
hottest engagements of the war and was mustered 
out Sept. 29, 1864. 

Mr. \ oung was in the railroad service for a 
year after the war, and stayed a year at Oil Creek, 
Penn. He was married in February, 1867, and in 
1869 came to Grundy County, where he worked at 
the carpenters trade until 1875, when appointed city 
marshaU. He served six years in that capacity. He 
is a Republican in politics. 

While marshal, he was shot in the hand by John 
Wharton, while placing Wharton under arrest. He 
is past commander of Col. Jacob Smith post, G. A. R 

Mr. Young was married Feb. 27, 1867, to Miss 
Irene Bishop of Hiram, Ohio. To this union were 
born three children, only one of whom is living, 
Orin W., born Dec. 9, 1872. Wm., born Oct. 21, 
1868, died Aug. 20, 1869. George B., Aug. 29, 1870, 
died Oct.. 19, 1877. 




RESIDENCE OF ARTHUR PHILLIPS 



850 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



ROBERT F. BABB was born in Lincoln 
township, June 9th, 1872. At fifteen he left home 
to shift for himself, working for awhile as a farm 
hand, later farming for himself. He was married 
Sept. 8, 1895 to Eva Lodge, daughter of John 
Lodge. While the most of Mr. Babb's life has been 
spent in Lincoln and Franklin townships, he lived 
for two years in Kansas. He owns a fine farm on 
Grand River bottom, adjoining Tindall, and has a 
handsome residence m that town. He is vice-presi- 
dent of the Tindall bank, which he helped to orga- 
nize, and has a number of town lots and other 
property. 

Mr. and Mrs. Babb have one child, Allie Marie, 
born May 2, 1896. 




RESIDENCE OK M, B. JOLLY 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



S51 



G. H. MYERS, a substantial farmer of Myers 
township is a descendant of the pioneer family for 
whom the township was named. He is a son of 
Milton J. and Margaret M. Myers. He was mar- 
ried Oct. 28, 1879, to Miss Anna Snedegar, daugh- 
ter of Enos Snedegar. They have three children: 
Hugh C, Albert M., and Maude. 

Mr. IMyers is a Republican in politics. He was 
elected county assessor when the township organi- 
zation law was declared invalid, and takes an active 
interest in political matters. He is a member of 
the Masonic lodge. Mr. Myers has two large farms 
besides the one on which he lives, 1054 acres in all. 




RESIDENCE OF L, W. LEHE\Y 

F. B. NORDYKE was born in Clinton Coun- 
ty, Ohio, August 10, 1844. He came with his par- 
ents to Missouri when a child, living three years 
at St. Joseph, then coming to Grundy County where 
his father entered land. He joined Co. A, 44th 
Missouri in 1864 and served to the close of the 



852 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

war. After the war he farmed and deah in Uve 
stock, coming to Trenton in 1878. He was for a 
time in Chicago, in the Hve stock commission busi- 
ness. He owns land in Greely County, Kansas, but 
his home is in Trenton. 

Mr. Nordyke was married March 8, 1866 to 
Mary E. Smith, daughter of Washington Smith. 
They have ten children, nine of whom are living: 
Etta, born May 31, 1867, now Mrs. Jno Eckhart, 
lives in Colorado; Mary E., August 15, 1869, now 
Mrs. Austin Wise; Elmer L., Feb. 15, 1871; Le- 
nora E., August 8, 1872, now Mrs. Ed Wright of 
Kansas City; Mildred B., Oct. 12, 1874, now Mrs. 
Frank Wisdom, of Freeport, 111; Bertha, Jan. 18, 
1876, died June 12, 1879; Maude B., Jan. 3, 1879; 
Frank B., Nov. 11, 1880; Alma B., July 27, 1883, 
now Mrs. Paul Hardy of Denver; Bercie, August 
10, 1886, now Mrs. Edward Worthy. 



RESIDENCE OF T. J. ADAMS 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 853 

B. T. REAM, son of John and Rachel Ream, 
was born in Grundy County, Sept. 9, 1870. He 
was married March 11, 1894 to Miss Anna Punneo, 
daughter of Charlie and Fannie Punneo, of Lar- 
edo. Mrs. Ream was born April 4, 1876. They 
have five children; Gladys, born Feb. 26, 1895; 
Barney Carl, July 26, 1897; Albert Lee, July 14, 
1900; Gertrude, April 23, 1906; Otto W., May 6, 
1909. 

Mr. Ream lives on a farm with his parents 
until married, buying a part of the farm he nows 
owns soon after. His farm is three miles east of 
Trenton, and a part of it is the old Ream home- 
stead, entered by his grandfather, the Reams being 
one of our pioneer families. He has 370 acres of 
land, and keeps his farm in excellent shape. 




RESIDENCE OF L. N. ROBERTSON 



854 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



N. M. RIDGWAY was born in Penn. Nov. 
22, 1825. He was a tailor's apprentice until grown, 
moving- then to Logansport, Ind., where he worked 
at his trade, thence moving to Iowa. He came 
from Osceola, Iowa, to Trenton, Grundy County 
in 1867, going into the grocery business. His store 
was burned in 1885. Mr. Ridgway was married 
March 17, 1848, to Rachel A. Dale, daughter of 




RESIDENCE OF CHAS. ENDICOTT 



David Dale and a relative of Rev. H. U. Dale. 
They have nine children, six of whom are living. 
Rhoda, born April 6, 1849, died Jan. 23, 1856; 
David, Nov. 5, 1850; Charles, Jan. 9, 1853, died in 
infancy; Harry C, July 15, 1854; Wm. H., Sept. 
15, 1856; Mary B., March 12, 1859, now Mrs. J. 
M. Parker; Fannie E., Oct. 10, 1860, now Mrs. 
Jno. Nelson; Bettie L., Jan. 22, 1863, died in in- 
fancy; D. D.., Jan. 28, 1865. Mrs. Ridgway died 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



855 



in Nov. 1903. Mr. Ridgway is a highly respected 
veteran among Trenton's business men and citi- 
zens. 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN R. MERRILL 



L. F. WILLIAMS was born in Trenton, June 
19, 1871. He is the son of J. W. and Martha J. 
Wilhams. He lived at home until nineteen, worked 
at the stone-masons trade for a time and was for a 
time in the well digging business. April 15, 1909 
he was appointed night policeman by Mayor Wil- 
liams, which position he has filled very efficiently. 

Mr. Williams was married Nov. 9, 1890, to 
Ida J. Ricketts, daughter of Cyrus Ricketts. They 
have four children: Bertha, eighteen years old; 
Melva, eleven; Clarence, six and Helen, two. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 857 

CORRECTIONS 

In a work of this size and character a few mistakes are 
unavoidable. Following is a list of corrections for sketches 
wherein the original data was either wrong or insufficient, which 
corrections were not received until after the sketches were in 
print. 

B. F. ASHER (see page 465). Otis Lynne, 
born Nov. 15, 1888; Dover, born Sept. 5, 1890. Mr. 
Asher's farm is located one and one half miles 
northeast of Dunlap. 




MR. AND iMKS. C. D. AXTP:LL 



C. D. AXTELL (see page 365) was married 
to Miss Cora Banta, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
W. R. Banta, Sept. 22, 1880. She was born May 
31, 1858 and died in 1901. Mr. Axtell was married 
in 1905 to Mrs. Mattie McHargue, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Wilson. She was born Sept. 



858 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

17, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Axtell are both members 
of the Dunlap Baptist church. He recently bought 
a valuable farm near the city of Trenton adjacent 
to the Fair Grounds. 

FRED D. BURRILL (see page 254), is a son 
of Stephen and Cornelia (Conant) Bur rill. He was 
married to Miss Lillie Collier in 1893. Thei: 
daughter, Mabel, was born June 17, 1894. Mr. 
Burrill was recently elected secretary of the state 
association of rural mail carriers, 

THEO BURKH ARDT, ( see page 49 1 ) . The 
following data was omitted in his sketch : 

His first wife died in Trenton in 1887, leav- 
ing four children : Ada, now a teacher in Wiscon- 
sin ; Bertha, now Mrs. T. A. Wilson, of Long Beach, 
Calif.: Ollie, at home; Ralph, at Telluride, Colo. 

He was married to Nannie M. Hancock, of the 
celebrated Hancock family of Virginia, Sept 24, 
1890. They have two children, Harry L., and Fran- 
ces. 

E. E. E. Eliott, (see page 459) should be E. E. 
Eliott. 

W. J. GATES (see page 393) was born July 
8, 1879. He was married to Miss Fannie McEl- 
fresh, Feb. 10, 1901. Mrs. Gates was born near 
Herrick, Illinois, Oct. 20, 1882. 

WILLIE GRIFFIN, JR. (see page 523). Mr. 
Griffin's father, William Griffin, was born in Wis- 
consin, March 11, 1840, His mother, Nancy E. 
(Bennett) Griffin, was born in Indiana, Feb. 26, 
1839. Mr. Griffin is not a member of the Christian 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



859 



church as stated in the sketch. He is a member of 
the Woodmen Accident Association. 

H. K. HERTZOG (see page 523) should read 
H. K. instead of H. A. Hertzog. 




RESIDENCE OF E. E. ELLIOTT 



J. A. LANG, (see page 682) should be J. J. 
Lang. 

C. F. McLaughlin (see page 465). Mr. 
McLaughlin's father, Robert McLaughlin, was born 
in 1791 and died in 1854. Mr. McLaughlin farmed 
in Mercer County until 1886 when he bought the 
farm on which he now lives. 



CHAS. MUFF (see page 417) is a son of Wil- 
liam and Christine (Beyer) Muff. Mr. Muff's 
father moved to Kansas City with the family in 
1869 where he was for a time employed in the 
baker's trade later going into business. Until he 



860 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

fvas eighteen Mr. Muff attended school and assisted 
his father in the baker's shop. At that time his 
parents moved to Emporia, he remaining in Kansas 
City working at the baker's trade. Five years later 
he went to Chicago, later returning to Kansas City, 
from which place he came in 1896 to Trenton where 
he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Muff have one 
daughter, Cora C, born April 10, 1908. He owns 
several real estate properties in Trenton and is in- 
terested in different business enterprises. 

JOSEPH D. PROFFIT, (see page 553) was 
for three years in the clerical department of the 
Rock Island. He was married to Sarah L. McVay. 
Delbert M. was born June 3, 1901. Mr. Proffit is 
past grand I. O . O F. and member .of W. O. W. 
He was first president of the Trenton organization 
of the Latter Day Saints, organized August 15, 
1909. 

THOMAS SMITH (see page 434). Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith have four children. Theodore Man- 
ford, Rainey H., Raymond Rad and Dale Hudson. 
The latter was born July 4, 1909. 

J. W. TRACY (see page 486) was married 
March 5, 1891 to Miss Rachel Legg. She was born 
Jan. 14, 1861. She was educated in the Trenton 
schools and afterwards taught, teaching her first 
term at the age of seventeen. During the six and 
one half years of his residence at Trenton, Mr. 
Tracy was employed in the C. R. I. & P. shops. 
Their daughter, Venice, is in the junior class of 
the Trenton High School 'this year. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 861 



CHAPTER XVI 



RECENT EVEET S— Flood of 1909— Crops ruined— Stock 
drowned — Life endangered — Drowth following — Farmers 
Store collapsed — Laredo coal chute burned. 

A REMARKABLY HEAVY RAIN, extend- 
ing from the central to the western part of North 
Missouri and Southern Iowa, beginning on the night 
of July 4, 1909, covered this entire section of the 
state with the worst flood in its history. The sud- 
den and tremendous downpour of water on the night 
of July 5th caused all the streams to rise with un- 
parallelled rapidity, overflowing all first and a con- 
siderable portion of second bottom land. All crops 
on the river and creek bottoms were ruined, miles 
upon miles of fencing were swept away and thou- 
sands of dollars worth of stock destroyed, the 
streams rising in the night and spreading over the 
bottoms so swiftly as to give the owners little chance 
to save their property. Water, entering the houses 
on the river bottoms, compelled the inmates to flee 
for their lives and many, especially of those on the 
river bottoms south of Trenton, were compelled 
to climb trees and remain until rescue came, which, 
in a few cases, required them to remain twenty- 
four hours. 

Not only were the crops on the bottom land 
ruined, but the rain, continuing for several days, 
damaged the crops on the upland to a considerable 



864 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

extent. The rain was followed by a drouth which 
cut the Grundy County corn crop for 1909 far short 
of the average. 

THE FARMERS STORE, one of the most 
splendid mercantile establishments of North Mis- 
souri, suffered a catastrophe on the afternoon of 
Tuesday, August 17, that entailed a loss of twenty 
to thirty thousand dollars upon the owners, Messrs. 
Hoffman and Merrill. The company were prepar- 
ing to build an addition to their store, and the 
necessary excavating caused an improperly con- 
structed retaining wall to give way, and the entire 
rear part of the great building collapsed. Though 
the collapse came about five o'clock in the afternoon 
when there were a number of shoppers and em- 
ployees in that part of the building and a number of 
workmen in and outside, all succeeded in escaping 
from the falling ruins, although some escaped by 
a very narrow margin. The echoes of the crash 
had hardly died away before Messrs. Hoffman and 
Merrill had a force of men clearing away the debris 
and were planning the erection of a larger and bet- 
ter addition to their building than the one that had 
collapsed. 

On the night following the collapse of the 
Farmers Store the coal chute of the Milwaukee 
railroad at Laredo burned, entailing a loss of sev- 
eral thousand dollars upon the railroad company. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 863 

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I 



THE EARLIEST PERIOD:— Early Subdivisions of Missouri— 
The Indians — The First Settlement — Bee Hunting — First 
Settlers — Settlements multiply — Plowing — The Mormons— 
The Heatherly Gang — Commerce, Foreign — Commerce, Do- 
mestic — Post Office Facilities — Political — An Old Time 
Honeymoon and a Peep Inside the New Home — Brief 
Sketch of Uncle Jack Moore — Charles Scott, an Old Set- 
tler — Pen Pictures of The First Cabins — List of First Set- 
tlers 13 to 33. 

CHAPTER II 
GRUNDY COUNTY ORGANIZED:— Boundaries— The First 
Courts — County Seat Commission — First Eleven Town- 
ships — Conditions of the Country — Stock Marks — Wolves 
Cause Trouble — Oxen the chief Draught Animals — Grundy 
a Slave Holding County — Some Old Grocery Store Ac- 
counts — How Accounts Were Settled — The First County 
Judges — Minutes of the First Court Meeting — Careless in 
Keeping Early Records — Work of the First Grand Juries — 
Lincoln I'ownship Fights for the County Seat — The City of 
Trenton Laid Out — A Court House Built — The Year of 
High Waters — Grundy County in the Mexican War — The 
First Deaths — The Gold Fever — Major Hubbell on Early 
Times — The First Deed of Record — An Interesting Docu_ 
ment 34 to 56. 

CHAPTER III 
THE WAR PERIOD:— Sentiment Divided— Workers for the 
Union — Companies Raised at Trenton — Men Lost at Shiloh 
— Roll of Company B — Other Grundy County Companies — 
No Confederate Organization — Picture of Home Life Dur- 
ing the War — The Country — Trenton in 1861 — Politics — 
Ruffianism — Social Life — Correspondence — War Alarms — 
With the Militia 57 to 72. 

CHAPTER IV 

REMINISCENCES, J. E. CARTER:— Peculiarities of Country 

and People — Manner of Living — Religious Services — With 

"The Boys" — Amusements — Colored People — The Liquor 

Question — The Hamlet of Trenton — Game and Fish — Horse 



866 HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 

Racing — The Days of the Ferry — Sports and Incidents 

73 to 85 

CHAPTER V 
COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE WAR:— Price of 
Land in the Sixties — Stray Notices — Deer Still Plentiful — 
Jail Built — Building Improvements — County Business — The 
County Fair in 1870 — The Market in 1871 — Country, Towns 
and Schools in the Seventies — Post Office Service — The 
Coming of the Railroad — Wealth of the County in the 
Eighties — In the Nineties — Rural Free Deliver^ — Court 
House Built— Local Option 87 to 95. 

CHAPTER VI 
TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS:— Franklin Township— Spickards 
— Harrison Township — Jackson Township — Jefferson Town- 
ship — Hickory — Liberty Townshjp — Gait — Elizaville — Lin- 
coln Township — Tindall — Madison Township — Edinburg 
Marion Township — Lindley — Dunlap — Granville — Myers 
Township- — Cookseyville — Taylor Township — Brimson — 
Trenton Township- — Washington Township — Wilson Town- 
ship — Alpha — Laredo 97 to 115. 

CHAPTER VII 
THE CITY OF TRENTON:— The Legend Of ils Founding- 
Crooked Streets — Slow Growth— The Village of Bluft 
GiQve^The Railroad Brings a New Era — Trenton in 1871 — 
TrrnU.n in 1878 — Fires — Building Improvements — Water 
Wo! k.s— The Trenton of Today 117 to 122. 

CHAPTER VIII 

POLITICAL:- The First Election- -The Barbecue— The Men 
Who Have Led — Early Political Battles — The Grange — 
'1 he First Temperance Move — I.,o~-«l Option in 18S6— Local 

Option in 1907— County Officers, 1842 to 1908... 123 to 142. 

CHAPTER IX 
EDUCATIONAL:— The First Schools- Description of the Old 
Log School House: — The Teacher — The Course of Study — 
District Organized — Early Enumerations — Teachers Wages 
List of Teachers in 1881 — County Schqol Commissioners — 
The Jewett Norris Library — Grand River College — Its 
First Course of Study — :A New Building — Period of Pros- 
perity — The Men at the Ilead — Avalon College — Its Estab- 
lishment — Vrooman Co-Operative Scheme — The Trenton 
High School Proper — Growth of the School — lyist of Su- 
perintendents-^The Trenton Schqol of Today. ...143 to 155. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 867 



CHAPTER X 
NEWSPAPERS:— The First Attempt— The Republican— The 
Times— The Star— The Tribune— The News— The Gait Her- 
ald—The Gait Sun— The Laredo Tribune— The Grundy 
County Gazette — The Spickard Herald — The Brimson Ban- 
ner — The Brimson Booster 157 to 166. 

CHAPTER XI 

INDUSTRIAL— County Ranks High in Agriculture— Valuation 
of Property — Manufacturing — Table of Industries — Table of 
Wage Earners' Salaries — Review of Manufacturing Indus- 
tries — Mining — Surplus Products of County — Telephone 
Systems — Railroads — First Efiforts — Company Organized — 
Bonds Voted — The Rock Island Comes— Machine Shop-3 — 
Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City — Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul 167 to 192. 

CHAPTER XIX 
CRIMES, CASUALTIES AND SUICIDES:— The Hentherleys 
The Murder of Jack Pefifers— S. C. Wilson Killed— Death 
of Bert Joiner — Other Deaths — Mrs. Ben King and Chil- 
dren Drowned , 193 to 200 

CHAPTER XIII 
GRUNDY COUNTY'S GREAT MEN:— Tewelt Norris, the 
Carnegie of Grundy County — Col. John H. Shanklin, Law- 
yer and Jurist — Rezin A DeBolt, Politician and Lawyer — 
Richard C. Norton, LL. D., Pioneer Educator— 201 to 210 

CHAPTER XIV 
PEN PICTURES OF CITY:— Schools— Library— Churches- 
Banks — Park — Hotels — Court House — Fire Company — Rail- 
roads — Gas & Electric Light Co. — Newspapers — Mining — 
Telephone — Postoffice — Ice Company — Brick and Tile Com- 
pany—Poultry Plant— Missouri Auction School— Wholesale 
Business — Golf — Automobiles — Corn Show — Chautauqua — 
Lecture Course — Sewers — Paving — Water — Resume — 211 to 
233. 

CHAPTER XVI 
RECENT EVENT S— Flood of 1909— Crops ruined— Stock 
drowned — Life endangered — Drowth following — Farmers 
Store collapsed — Laredo coal chute burned. 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



INDEX. 



Figures i/i t/ie Jirsl column denote the page on nvhich the sketch appears; 
those hi the second column are for pictures. 



Adams ADA B 353 

Adams T J 625 

Adams W R 625 

Addison Chas 237 

Addison Walter ...363 

Akers J E 626 

Allen Everett 626 787 

Allen Frank 499 

Allerdice R W 235 236 

Anderson E L, 443 

Anderson G M 237 

Anderson S W 627 

Babb R F 851 754 

Babb W H 753 755 

Bailey D T 245 246 

Bain C J 243 244 

Bain H J 241 240 

Bain O G 241 

Bain W W 493 

Baird G E 630 829 

Baker E N 242 242 

Baker J H 503 

Baker R M 756 

Ballinger B F 504 

Balsley J M 594 594 

Bank Spickardsville.494 

Banta Chas 239 

Banta Pearl 239 

Barr J C 247 757 

Beach J L 595 

Beacom T H 757 446 

Beck R H 372 

Beckner Marion ...366 515 

Bell W C 631 828 

Belse Claude 446 447 

Belshe H G 632 

Benge W D 247 

Bennett J N 248 

Benschoten Jno . . . .448 



Anderson W A ....444 444 
Anderson W W ....445 

Arney David 499 500 

Asher B F 363 582 

Asher Howard ....753 

Asher J A 628 628 

Asher Scott 364 

Austin Oscar 629 

Axtell C D 365 

Axtell J E 365 

Axtell W H 366 

Blanchard A J 633 

Blattner Isaac ....634 635 

Bondurant A R 636 

Bosley F L 637 

Boyce R E 758 

Branson Joe 505 

Brassfield J N 637 795 

Brennenstuhl F B ..449 
Brennenstuhl C A ..250 

Brewer W H 759 760 

761 

Bridges AM 638 639 

Briegel Adam 505 

Brooks J C 590 590 

Brooks J B 756 

Brooks W T 591 592 

Brower T S 639 

Brown A K 494 495 

Brown D C 496 496 

Brown D C Jr 640 

Brown E E 641 

Brown Herbert ....250 

Brown S L 589 

Brown T A 642 642 

Brown Wesley 594 

Brown WO 375 

Browning H H 251 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



869 



Benton Jas 367 

Benton J B 248 667 

Berry D R 369 370 

371 

Berry F A 249 

Berry T B 368 

Bickel Chas 373 

Bickel Ed 633 

Bickel Sam'l 2,7 2> 

Bickel W H 374 

Black J W 592 594 

Blackburn C P 374 

Campbell H C 597 597 

660 

Carnes J B 255 256 

Carpenter C C 451 452 

Carpenter E F 376 

Carpenter J A 2,77 

Carpenter R J 377 

Carpenter R O 453 

Carpenter W B .. ..258 

Carter John 259 259 

Cate Wm 260 

Chalfant Claude ...261 

Chase B K 453 

Clark G W 454 455 

Clark John 378 

Clark S T 508 

Clawson J H 273 

Claypole D H 379 

Claypole J A 644 826 

Clinkenbeard S M ..456 

Cloyd H H 263 

Cockran R L 274 

Coit W R 645 836 

Colley M N 262 

Collier Luther 262 

Collins John 264 

Collins T J 761 

Cook C H 379 

Dale H U 765 

Dalhouse Dean ....388 
Davenport Alonzo .458 
Day S S 646 



Bruce Arch 643 

Brummitt W W ...254 493 

Buchanan AH 501 501 

Buckert Ed 502 503 

Burkeholder AH ..251 
Burkeholder Norton. 449 450 

Burkhardt T 491 

Burrill F D 254 

Burt W F 506 

Burtch W O 450 

Bushong John 507 

Butler i\ T 375 

Cook E A 380 381 

Cook E W 457 457 

Cooksey U S 264 

Hoffman H F 531 622 

Coon D W 265 

Cooper Ed 509 

Copple Clay 382 

Cornwell AT ^98 

Cornwell Frank ...384 479 

Cornwell L P 509 

Cowhick John 267 268 

Cox E S 510 

Cox J A 266 

Cox Levi 267 

Cox S R 266 

Crabb J M 383 

Craig Peter 385 

Grain I H 762 763 

Craini F H 599 

Crawford C W 511 512 

Crawford H C 269 270 

Crawford W C ....511 835 

Crooks A B 272 

Crutcher T B 645 

Cunningham H A ..513 
Cunningham W J . . .492 

Curry S B 764 764 

Cutlip George 272 

Dean E A 514 

Denslow W M 275 276 

Deskins J D 372 

Deskins W P 385 



870 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Devore G F 817 

Dillon J R m 277 

Doan John 647 

Dobbins C. H 386 

Doerr H J 387 387 

Donaldson J A ....648 
Douglas J W 599 

Elledge M L 278 279 

Ellington O T ....652 652 

Eliott E E 459 

Elliott F A 516 

Elliott Isaac 650 838 

Elliott S D 600 601 

Evans J B 282 

Fair J A 460 

Fair J F 653 

Fanning Joseph ....517 
Farnsworth D W ..390 390 

Fickel C L 461 

Fickel H F 653 

Fisher F M 768 768 

Fleming C F 769 

Fleshman L S 389 

Folkers Harry 285 

Ford B F 605 606 

Ford B M 654 

Ford G W 288 

Gall G W 661 

Gallatin H W 391 758 

Gallatin O S 609 609 

Gallion J M 288 

Garnand S G 392 

Garnand WO 519 520 

691 

Garvin W O 771 772 

Gass CD 662 662 

Gass E R 663 663 

Gates Jas 608 

Gates W J 393 

Grhlbaeh Otto ....664 

Gentry Chas 606 607 

George G ;841 



Dowell Wm 515 

Drumniond J T 389 

Dudley James 459 

Dufify E A 767 

Duke L F 648 

Dunlap Jesse 649 650 

Elliott W E 278 280 

Elmore SAD 281 

Endicott C S 651 

Estes Jas S 281 

Evans E R 602 

Ford Rose T 656 655 

Ford J E 283 286 

Ford T B 770 770 

Foster C A 287 

Fox F E 518 518 

French A W 603 

French J A 604 604 

Frey G W 656 

Fulkerson F D ....657 658 

Fulkerson J F 839 

Fulkerson T F 603 

Fulkerson W D ...287 
Fullerton E W 659 

Gibson W P 393 

Gillespie H M 289 

Ginn Harve 461 

Gooch A K 394 

Gordon W B 521 

Gose T A 666 666 

Gose WD .522 765 

Catt J T 839 

Gray Alfred 665 

Green C A 290 

Green R J ...| HZ 774 

Grififee W H 774 

Griffin Willie ......523 

Guiles Fred 291 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



871 



Hall Geo 291 292 

Hall H E 610 817 

Hall H S 667 702 

Hamilton Otto 529 

Harber E M 775 776 

Harris W G 396 

Hart Selah 618 668 

Hartley J C 295 294 

296 
485 

Hartley S A 395 811 

Hartley Walter ...669 670 

Haynes C A 675 

Hendrickson Geo. ..295 
Hendrickson J W ..397 507 
Hendrickson W N .530 

Herriott G P 610 

Herriott J E yn 

Hertzog H K 523 

Hessenflow D B ...298 
Hildebrand J A ...675 
Hildebrand W H ...675 
Hill J S 397 



Hill Sam'l 298 

Hlli S R 676 

Hinkley Jno 398 

Hobbs V O 398 

Hoisington C A ...841 

HoUoway 671 

Holloway DA... .671 

Hortenstine H 818 

Horton Tyrus 524 

Hosteller W M ...525 

Hubbell Geo 300 

Hubbell O P 671 

Hubbell W W ....778 

Huckins Geo 532 

Hudson Frank ....527 

Hudson J T 300 

Hughes H J 533 

Hughes J W 528 

Hughes W J 673 

Humphreys U G . . .301 
Humphreys W H ..303 

Hunter W C 400 

Hurt Clayton 528 



299 



399 



526 

808 
778 

527 



302 



Ingraham J W 



.677 



Jackson B 678 678 

Jackson G T 820 819 

Jackson J E 821 

Jackson R B 401 

Jackson R F 307 

Jackson W R 304 304 

Jackson WW 305 306 

Johnson J M 534 534 

Kathan E G 539 

Keith C C 780 

Keith J B 462 

Keith N W 404 406 

Keith T H 405 407 

Keith W D 6ll 

Keiso Joe 680 681 

Kelso S S 308 

Kennedy G L ... ..540 



Johnson J M 535 

Johnson M 401 

Johnson W H ....307 

Joiner W P 402 402 

Jolly M B 779 

Jones F J 680 

Jones J F 403 403 

Kilburn Andy 821 822' 

Kilburn I J 826 

Kilburn J B 825 

Kilburn J T 823 824 

King B B 536 537 

King D B 538 

King W E 682 

Knight A G 308 

Koon I F 309 



872 



HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY 



Lang J J 682 

Langdon A P 541 

Lauderback S A ...684 

Layson J O 781 

Layson W F 827 

Lee F W 683 

Lee J H 407 

Leeper J L 309 

Legg J V 541 

Legg Marion 781 

LeHew J C 408 

LeHew L W 686 

Mack G F 698 

Mack Jas 464 

Mack O E 809 

Madden F M 316 

Mairs E J 545 

Mang A 699 

Mang J 464 

Marlin W E 808 

Marrs D C 545 

Marsden A N 783> 

Marsden J L 411 

Martin C F 692 

Martin Fred 466 

Martin G E 320 

Martin Joseph 319 

Martin Joshua ....321 

Martin R J 692 

Mason E L 323 

Mason J W 693 

McAdams W J . . ..310 

McCall C C 312 

McCaull W S 831 

McClanahan C L ..313 

McCown Jas 313 

McCracken W A .. .314 

McGee J W 311 

McKee D W 410 

McLain Jno 830 

McLaughlin Collins. 688 
McLaughlin C F ...465 
McMbUen Harry ...691 
McMullen Miles .. .690 



683 



816 

408 



782 



318 



546 
784 



324 



311 



831 



410 



Lein F L 685 

Lemley D C 542 

Lemley L C 685 

Lenhardt Jno 543 

Lenhardt J A 543 

Lenz J G 829 

Lightner E C 686 

Longstreth P S ...687 

Lowen J M 409 

Lowry H L 462 

Luke S P 544 

Lynch G A 782 

McMurtry W H ..695 

McRae Ira 315 

McVay W A 696 

Means B F 811 

Merrifield J E 415 

Merrill Jno 693 

Merryman Jno . . . .412 
Merryman H P ...694 

Merryman T C 611 

Merryman W A ...612 

Mterryman W A 

Miller A P 412 

Miller C N 703 

Miller N T 547 

Miller O R 703 

Miller Thos 547 

Minter D N 614 

Moberly Harry .. ..812 

Moberly E J ^21 

Montgomery A D ..616 

Mooney M H 548 

Moore Albert 704 

Moore C E 414 

Moore C M 414 

Moore T E 471 

Moore Jno 549 

Moore J D 699 

Moore J M 468 

Moore R J 469 

Moore W D 700 

Morris Harry 322 

Morris Will 322 



767 



463 



810 



316 
697 

416 



695 

613 
614 



6L 



330 
548 



468 
700 



GRUNDY COUNTY HISTORY 



873 



Muff Chas 417 418 

Munn O K 550 

Murphy F D 701 

Nelson Nels 551 

Neeky C W 701 

Neeley H 705 796 

Newman Jno 812 

Niccum E J 327 

Nicholas A 2,21 467 

Nichols B C 325 

O'Connell M J ....784 

Orchard J F 328 

Overman C W 420 

Overton J G 617 617 

Padget Geo 328 329 

Parkhurst A E ....421 

Patrick H B 707 707 

Patterson H M ....708 

Patterson Jno 421 

Patterson W E ....422 

Patton J B 708 709 

Patton B M 786 

Peery H T 552 553 

Pennell A 710 

Pennell C A 330 

Pennell E G 712 711 

Rader T H 332 332 

Range C E 425 426 

Ratliff J N 788 789 

Ratliff Marcellus . . .554 

Ratliff W E 555 556 

Ratliff W T 557 

Ream B T 853 844 

Ream J M 716 790 

Raid Geo 557 

Renfro J C 478 477 

Renfro J N 714 

Renfro W H 426 

Rensch H A 333 

Riddle D V 715 

R dgway N M 334 



Murphy J G 416 

Myers A T 323 

Myers G H 851 

Nichols Hugh 471 472 

Nichols J C 551 842 

Nichols J G 473 499 

Nichols M 326 

Nichols Sarah 418 419 

Nordyke F B 852 

Norton Wm 475 

Overton J S 785 785 

Owen G G 705 

Owens W E 706 

Oyler Arthur 813 814 

Pennell W E 423 

Pew D E 815 

Pew W A 834 

Phillips Ralph 423 424 

Phillips D E 712 

Pickett O A 330 331 

Portman Jno 834 

Pratt J E 425 

Proctor W F 476 

Proctor B D 835 

Proffit J D 553 

Pulliam W R 713 713 

Rinker J T 715 

Robb L S 427 

Robbins W R 478 583 

Robertson J G 618 

Robertson EM.. .716 
Robertson W H ...790 

Robinson LP 334 

Robinson Mrs Phil. 559 

Roh H W 428 474 

Rooks A E 717 

Root J W 335 336 

Ross J F 718 

Rucker W L 337 

Ruppert C L 337 338 

Rusk Eric 428 429 



874 



GRUNDY COUNTY HISTORY 



Sandlin Da<i 719 

Sappenfield L C ...568 

Sawyer H H 720 

Sawyer T J 429 

Schellhase Wm ....339 
Schierbaum J H ...338 
Schlotterback Levi .430 
Schlotterback Wm .721 

Schooler J W 480 

Schooler J W 480 

Schooler Peery ....722 

Schuler H B 566 567 

Scott Carlos 4431 

Scott C W 560 794 

Scott F R 432 

Scott J M ..480 

Scott Layton 432 

Searcy J F 433 

Shaw W H 481 

Sheldon S 340 

Shelton J H 422 

Shepard M F 340 

Sherrow H 12Z 724 

Shine Jno 341 

Shirley W E 792 

Short R E 568 

Shullengerger W A. 431 571 

Simons G B 724 

Sires Columbus ...481 482 

Skaggs S 725 726 

Smith B F 726 727 

Smith David 433 

Smith E N 342 342 

Tarter L M 735 7Zt 

Tavener W H 572 

Taylor L H .......435 

Terry Sam 572 573 

Thomas C C 837 

Thomas C S 435 436 

Thomas Mrs D ....351 

Thomas Walter 351 

Thompstoii A B ....437 
Thompson C A ...797 
Thompson David ...736 111 



Smith G W 343 

Smith H C 344 344 

Smith J M 345 

Smith. S G 731 

Smith Thos 434 

Smith T L 345 

Songer L T 796 

Speck Henry 483 

Speck J D 346 

Spencer L D 792 793 

Spera J C 7i2 732 

Spickard G I 561 

Spickai-d J T 1Z2> 734 

Spickard Roy 347 

Starr O J 347 

Steckman EH 728 

Stein H 794 

Stepp P C 562 

Stepp WD 563 

Stevens J S 728 

Storms AC 729 791 

Stratton W H 564 564 

Stuart W C 569 569 

Summers C C 730 

Sutton Bertha 348 

Sutton George 734 

Swank D S 570 

Swank E V 349 

Swank Jacob 349 

Sweetman 483 

Swinton H L 484 

Sykes A K 565 



Thompson D T ....843 798 
Thompson Fred ...574 

Tierney H B 437 

Tibbetts S F 845 

Titcomb G H 349 

Tolle F S 352 

Tolson A C 350 

Tolson O C 738 

Toot J G 352 

Tracy J W 486 

Tracy N R 798 799 



GRUNDY COUNTY HISTORY 



875 



Travis K W 739 

Uhrmacher Wm 
Urton W C 741 

Vawter Frank W S .575 620 

Wagner J A 487 

Wagner Jr 747 

Wagner O C 747 

Walker Dale 438 

Warden LA 356 357 

Warren J H 359 

Warren Nancy 748 

Warren W H 802 

Webster C W 439 

Welch A F 580 801 

Westfall J 742 742 

Westlake W C 581 

Wettstein Henry ..439 440 

Whan J M 357 358 

White A M 359 624 

Wild P G 806 806 

Wilford E E 353 

Williams C B 743 803 

Williams Claude ...440 

Williams O G 354 116 

Williams T L 441 

Williams L F 851 

Williamson L F ..619 

Willis J A 621 

Wilson C C 441 442 

Wilson E C 623 

Wilson E M 581 

Yambert Roy 442 

Young EL 587 

Young R V 

Ziegler O S 588 



Turner J 740 470 

Utterback Barton ..744 744 



Vencill Frank 745 746 

Wilson J D 488 488 

Wilson J W 749 749 

Wilson P R 491 

Wilson T A 489 490 

Wilson T S 751 

Wilson W A 577 578 

Wilson W E 803 

Wilson W T 579 

Wilson W T 750 672 

Winfrey J R 355 

Winningham Dr. ...799 800 

Wirt R R 366 

Witten S G 356 

Witten T N 801 

Wolf Elmer 847 

Wood B F 360 

Wood F L 752 

Woodress T A 361 362 

Woods L V 584 584 

Woods W P 

Wolz Geo 804 804 

Wolz G M 805 

Wolz Jno 576 577 

Wright J R 623 

Wright J R 585 

Wyatt Amy 750 

Young W R 

Young WW 588 



iPB^o/'^ 



